U.S. Virgin Islands – V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea announced that on May 30, 2025, Joseph Ramirez pleaded guilty to First-Degree Assault before the Honorable Judge Douglas Brady in the Virgin Islands Superior Court. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2025, and Ramirez faces up to fifteen years in prison.
On May 12, 2024, Ramirez was involved in a domestic dispute with his intimate partner at the Candido Guadalupe Housing Community on St. Croix. Officer Elsworth Jones of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) responded to the 911 call for assistance. Ramirez attacked Officer Jones when the officer attempted to stop him from assaulting his intimate partner. Ramirez placed Officer Jones in a chokehold, strangling him. Officer Jones was eventually able to escape the chokehold. After additional VIPD officers arrived on the scene, Ramirez attacked Officer Jones again, at which point he was successfully placed under arrest.
Attorney General Rhea expressed gratitude to everyone involved for their hard work, including the prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Robert Pickett, Esq., Special Agent Riquesha Williams, Assistant Director of Investigations Giselle Quinones, and Litigation Specialist Eileen Christian from the St. Croix District of the V.I. Department of Justice (DOJ) Criminal Division. He also expressed gratitude to VIPD Det. Samir Maldonado who investigated the case.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2025
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov