Author Archives: doj-admin

Law Enforcement Agencies Denounce School Threats, Ensure School Safety

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), in coordination with federal law enforcement partners, actively responded to recent threats targeting schools in the St. Croix District. All public schools in the St. Croix District were closed on Monday, August 25, 2025, out of an abundance of caution to protect students, faculty, and staff. Heightened security measures were also implemented across both districts, with VIPD carrying out precautionary searches in the St. Thomas–St. John District. Schools in the ST. John District remained open, as no active threats were reported there.

Alan Motta Arrested for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements

U.S. Virgin Islands – V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea announces that 43-year-old Alan Motta, was arrested on Friday, August 15, 2025, for failing to comply with mandatory registration requirements for sex offenders in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Motta, a Tier 3 registered offender, failed to update his registration information with the Virgin Islands Department of Justice (VIDOJ), as required by law.

DOJ Medical Examiner’s Office: Khadeem W. DeSilvia Represents USVI at IACME 2025 Conference

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands – The V.I. Department of Justice (DOJ) proudly congratulates Khadeem W. DeSilvia, Medicolegal Death Investigator with the DOJ Office of the Medical Examiner, for attending and presenting at the 2025 International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME) Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV, from July 19-24, 2025.

Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea Joins Bipartisan Coalition Supporting Federal Cannabis Banking Reform

U.S. Virgin Islands – V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea today joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in calling on Congress to pass the SAFER Banking Act of 2025. The coalition submitted a letter to congressional leaders urging passage of legislation that would provide legal clarity for banks and financial institutions to serve state-regulated cannabis businesses, addressing critical public safety concerns while improving states’ ability to collect taxes and conduct regulatory oversight.

Department of Justice Hosts Critical Training for the Criminal Investigations Bureau of the Virgin Islands Police Department

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – In a strategic effort to enhance trial preparation and prosecution effectiveness, the Virgin Islands Department of Justice (DOJ), St. Croix Criminal Division, hosted a specialized Trial Academy for the Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) on July 11th. The academy, aimed at both detectives and attorneys, focused on preparing key law enforcement personnel for successful trial outcomes by providing intensive training in trial advocacy, evidence presentation, and courtroom procedures.