USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has called for the resignation of V.I. Police Commissioner Ray Martinez after he was issued with a target letter by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The cellphones of both him and his wife were also confiscated, which Government House confirmed Martinez had reported.
As of 2 p.m., today Sunday 16 June, Martinez had tendered his resignation which has been accepted by the Governor.
“To ensure the integrity of our enforcement laws,” according to an official statement.
"The administration has been informed that Ray Martinez, the Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department, is implicated in an ongoing federal investigation," said Gov't House in a statement
"Adhering to our zero-tolerance policy against corruption, the Governor has accepted Mr. Martinez’s resignation to ensure the integrity of our law enforcement efforts. We will fully cooperate with the federal investigation and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and accountability within the Virgin Islands Government." The statement continued.
However, a decision on Office of Management and Budget Director Jenifer O'Neal has not yet been determined, with options including administrative leave, though her resignation also remains an option. O’Neal is said to have been served while in a hotel in Florida, and has been subpoenaed to testify, and or give evidence at the Grand Jury Trial on 24 June. Her phone was also confiscated.
Unconfirmed information is suggesting that the investigation focuses on a cybersecurity and surveillance contract that was awarded by the VIPD to a company that allegedly provided Martinez with funding for an eatery he has been planning to open on St. Thomas.
There are questions about whether the contract was awarded using federal ARPA funds, and if a family member of O’Neal is involved with the company that secured the contract.
The V.I. Attorney General is expected to address the situation at a press conference scheduled by Government House on Monday. Officials emphasized Sunday that the administration maintains “a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.
We understand that Mario Brooks is now serving as Acting VIPD Commissioner.
Guavaberry Media will keep you updated as this story continues to develop.