(U.S. Virgin Islands)- Acting Attorney General Carol Thomas-Jacobs announces that Rodney E. Miller, Sr., was advised of his rights and arraigned on February 17, 2023.
Miller appeared in V.I. Superior Court before Honorable Magistrate Judge Paula Norkaitis. Judge Norkaitis found probable cause for prosecutors to charge Miller with one count of violation of the Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (CICO), 5 counts of Embezzlement or Falsification of Public Accounts, 5 Counts of Conversion of Government Property, and 5 Counts of Embezzlement by Public and Private Officers. In the information, prosecutors alleged that while Miller was the Chief Executive Officer of the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital and Medical Center (RLSH) he fraudulently obtained and appropriated over $1.6 million of the Hospital’s funds to himself. His bail was set at $5,000.
Miller and two other RLSH executives were initially charged in October 2008 with multiple offenses arising out of their tenure at the RLSH. The initial trial ended in a mistrial in June 2011. After years of appeals and other proceedings, they were retried in a six-week jury trial which resulted in the jury convicting all of the defendants on all charges totaling 44 counts between them. All three RLSH executives appealed their convictions to the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands. As it relates to Miller, he challenged in his appeal the sufficiency of the evidence of his convictions. In a February 22, 2022, Opinion, the Supreme Court ordered the Superior Court to enter a judgment of acquittal on some counts and for several other counts charging violation of CICO, Obtaining money by false pretenses, and embezzlement of public accounts, the Supreme Court found that “the People introduced sufficient evidence to sustain Miller’s convictions” however, it remanded the case for a new trial on those counts due to the “failure of the Superior Court to take appropriate action to ensure that the jury rendered a unanimous verdict or to ascertain the value of the property stolen, embezzled or falsely obtained as required by title 5, section 3636 of the Virgin Islands Code.” Currently, the People allege that more than $1.6 million that rightfully belongs to RLSH and were fraudulently appropriated by Miller remains in his accounts.
Washington, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett reintroduced her legislative priorities to improve economic conditions in the territory for the 118th Congress:
“The introduction of these new bills is part of our legislative strategy toward improving the economy of the U.S. Virgin Islands. These bills, along with others to come, will improve the Virgin Islands’ economic development authorities under the Internal Revenue Code. Aside from improving economic development in the Virgin Islands by attracting more businesses and visitors, this legislative package addresses transportation and infrastructure needs, as well as the need for greater access to education and healthcare for Virgin Islands residents,” Plaskett said.
“Creating a special visa waiver program for the Virgin Islands will open up more opportunities for us to host more participants in regional sporting activities like the ‘Rolex Regatta,’ and the St. Croix International Triathlon, as well as opportunities to open our medical facilities to patients in the Caribbean region. All of these bills, if passed, will protect jobs and the livelihood of our small business owners and increase the amount of revenue generated in the Virgin Islands,” Plaskett added.
“For the 118th Congress, I was appointed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries as the Ranking Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. This is the first time a Member from a U.S. territory has been appointed to these posts. I look forward to leveraging my national profile to advocate for the equity of all Virgin Islanders. The U.S. territories and their residents are equally American.
The legislation reintroduced by Congresswoman Plaskett for the 118th Congress includes:
“Full Rum Cover Over – This bill repeals the limit on the amount of distilled spirits excise taxes rebated to the treasuries of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
“Territorial Economic Recovery Act – This bill would restore favorable tax treatment of investment in U.S. territories, including the Virgin Islands. It would treat such investment as domestic rather than foreign investment and require investors to have an active trade or business in a U.S. territory with a certain percentage of income derived from such territory.
“Territorial Tax Parity Act – This bill modifies the income source rules that apply with respect to the taxation of resident businesses in U.S. territories. This would make the Virgin Islands more attractive to businesses and investment and would create more jobs in the territory.
“Territorial Tax Equity and Economic Growth Act – This bill modifies the residence and income source rules involving U.S. territories to provide for economic recovery in the territories.
“Territorial Tax Parity and Fairness Act – This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to apply the exemption that currently exists for U.S. territory residents from the law’s definition of a United States shareholder to include bona fide residents of the Virgin Islands, like the existing treatment for bona fide residents of Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. This will bring tax parity to investments in the Virgin Islands.
“Territorial Tax Parity and Clarification Act – The bill would specifically create parity between the way capital gains income in the Virgin Islands is treated and the way that it is treated in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
“Fuel Tax Cover Over Bill – This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to cover over (pay) to the Virgin Islands revenue from U.S. excise taxes on fuel produced in the Virgin Islands and transported to the United States mainland from the Virgin Islands, like the existing cover over program that exists for distilled spirits and other articles of manufacture.
“Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act – This bill authorizes a nonimmigrant visitor visa waiver program for nationals of certain countries to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands for up to 45 days (as currently provided to other U.S. territories). Under this visitor tourism program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may provide a waiver admitting a nonimmigrant visitor from a DHS-approved country into the Virgin Islands for up to 45 days.
“Insular Areas College Access Act – This bill would establish a college access grant program for students in the small U.S. territories. The program would be administered by the Department of Education to cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for students who attend a public institution of higher education elsewhere in the United States.
“Resiliency Enhancement Act – This bill extends the special provision of disaster assistance enacted under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 for infrastructure providing critical services to also include solid waste management, stormwater management, public housing, transportation infrastructure, and medical care infrastructure. Such assistance would be extended to capture any major disaster declared in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma or Hurricane Maria and before September 30, 2022.
“Territories Health Equity Act – This bill provides equitable federal funding and treatment under Medicaid, Medicare, and other federal health programs for Americans living in U.S. territories.
“Extend Basic Allowance for Housing to servicemembers in the Virgin Islands – This bill authorizes the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services in the Virgin Islands (instead of the overseas housing allowance).
“Dictionary Act amendment to define Territories as a State in Federal programs – This bill creates a rule of construction in the U.S. Code to include U.S. territories in the definition of the term “State” for purposes of federal programs (except where special treatment has been explicitly provided).
“Trade Adjustment Assistance Parity – This bill extends the trade adjustment assistance for workers program to the U.S. territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
“I look forward to continue working with my Democratic colleagues to put people over politics, work to lower costs, create better paying jobs, and make our communities safer by working with whomever to support and advocate for everyday Americans.”
Click Here to Listen live to WSTA Radio
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) announces that the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, which evaluates weekly water quality at popular swimming beaches throughout the Territory by sampling for Enterococci, Bacteria and Turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity, advises the public of the following:
DPNR performed water quality analysis at 32 designated beaches throughout the Territory during the week of August 22 – August 26, 2022. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are considered safe for swimming and fishing:
| St. Thomas | |||
| Lindbergh Bay | Vessup Bay | Frenchman’s Bay | |
| Brewers Bay | Lindqvist Beach | Sapphire Beach | |
| Hull Bay | Bluebeard’s Beach | ||
| Magens Bay | Bolongo Bay | ||
| Coki Point | Secret Harbor | ||
| St. Croix | ||
| Stony Ground | Pelican Cove | Shoy’s |
| Dorsch Beach | Columbus Landing | Chenay Bay |
| Frederiksted Public Beach | Protestant Cay | Sprat Hall |
| Rainbow (Prosperity) | New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta) | |
| Cane Bay | Buccaneer Beach | |
| St. John |
| Cruz Bay |
| Oppenheimer |
| Johnson Bay |
| Great Cruz Bay |
| Frank Bay |
| Water Island |
| Honeymoon Beach |
Please note: Samples were not collected on the following beaches due to excessive sargassum seaweed:
- Water Bay on St. Thomas
- Princess (Condo Row) on St. Croix
- Cramer’s Park on St. Croix
- Grapetree Bay on St. Croix.
Therefore, the water quality at these beaches is unknown.
All persons should be aware that storm water runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health and therefore, should avoid areas of storm water runoff (i.e., guts, puddles, and drainage basins) or any area that appears discolored or has foul odors. DPNR will continue to monitor impacted areas and waters.
For additional information regarding water quality call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 in St. Croix or 774-3320 in St. Thomas.
CROIX, USVI – Congresswoman Plaskett, a Member of the House Ways and Means, Budget and Agriculture Committees released the following statement after presenting a check to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner and the DHS Head Start program team:
“I am thrilled to celebrate a grant in the amount of $42.4 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services Head Start program. This funding is for construction grants and will require zero local match to fund the construction and restoration of facilities territory-wide.”
DHS Commissioner Kim Causey-Gomez shared, “The part that I love the best about being Commissioner is being able to serve all the populations of the Virgin Islands. We start with our little people in Head Start and our office of Child Care and we go all the way through every population. If we don’t do this right for our children, we will not be right for our community. Providing access to Head Start supports children’s growth by providing a positive learning environment through learning and development, health, and family well-being, all which have a positive impact on children’s preschool readiness. The Territory embraces this opportunity to effectively leverage the Federal dollars that will impact the early childhood education environment for the children of the Virgin Islands for generations to come. We are actively recruiting children for Head Start school year 2022-2023. Sign-up today!”
Also present were several other representatives from the Department of Human Services, including DHS Assistant Commissioner Carla Benjamin who stated that the grant funds will ensure that DHS is able to renovate, upgrade and build new facilities so that the territory’s children are able to learn in a rich environment. DHS Head Start Administrator, Masikia Lewis also shared that the landmark amount of funding that the territory’s Head Start program has been awarded will help construct state of the art, mega, multi-purpose head start centers around our territory.
The Director of the Office of Disaster Recovery, Mrs. Adrienne Williams-Octalien also shared, “We here at the Office of Disaster Recovery take deep pride in rebuilding the Virgin Islands. We call it a legacy of resilience.”
The Head Start program was launched in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as an eight-week demonstration project designed to help break the cycle of poverty. The program promotes the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children in a variety of settings including centers, family childcare, and children’s homes. Furthermore, this vital program engages parents or other key family members in positive relationships, with a focus on family well-being, and creates opportunities for participation in leadership roles, including feedback on program operations.
At the check presentation event, Congresswoman Plaskett also stated, “I would like to extend a special thank you to DHS Commissioner Gomez, Assistant Commissioner Benjamin and Head Start Administrator Masikia Lewis for the excellent work they do to support the children in our territory. We must remain unwavering in our commitment and in our advocacy and support for our next generations.”
Click here to view a recording of the check presentation event.