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Crime/Police

BVI trafficker found guilty on lesser charges; cleared of smuggling charge

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(St. Thomas Source) — The trial of a British Virgin Islands man caught by a Customs patrol boat after a high-speed chase in Coral Bay, St. John, yielded two guilty verdicts. But the defendant in the case was cleared of the more serious charge of trying to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States.

Defendant Buney Chinnery and six others were taken into custody on the night of Oct. 31. Federal agents who were on board the Customs patrol boat that chased and stopped defendant Chinnery testified during the trial.

The trial began with jury selection on Feb. 21 and lasted two-and-a-half days. Customs Officer Eric Viergutz gave a detailed account of the Oct. 31 incident. Some of the passengers who made the trip from Tortola with Chinnery testified as well, including a Haitian immigrant who identified himself and Chinney from photos taken by the arresting officers.

Prosecutor Natasha Baker asked Viergutz why the patrol boat targeted the vessel that led to the arrest. The officer said the vessel was seen operating after dark without navigation lights. During the officer’s testimony, Baker played a digital recording taken by the patrol officers showing their attempts to order the vessel they spotted to stop.

Those attempts included patrol officers turning on the flashing blue lights mounted on their boat. Baker asked what the vessel operator — identified in photos as Chinnery — did when he saw the lights.

Viergutz said the boat captain turned his face away from the console of his boat and made eye contact with one of the officers. Then he moved his hand towards the throttle and took a sharp turn away from the patrol boat.

One of the passengers who testified at trial described the journey that led to his trip from Tortola to the United States, with Chinnery driving the vessel. Witness Willy Joseph said he left his home in Haiti and made his way to neighboring Dominican Republic, where he stayed for a while. In late October, he boarded a flight from the Dominican Republic to Tortola. Two days later, he boarded an empty van that made several stops, picking up passengers. The van came to a stop near a shoreline area, and the passengers got out.

Then, Joseph said, they met a man who led them to a motorboat. The witness identified that man as Chinnery after being shown a series of photos displayed to the jury.

Chief District Court Judge Robert Molloy turned the case over for deliberation on Friday. Jurors delivered their verdict later that day. Chinnery was convicted of failure to heave to, a maritime offense that makes it a crime to disobey a lawful order to stop a vessel.

He was also found guilty of making a false statement to a representative of the U.S. government. One witness appearing at trial said Chinnery misspelled his name when asked to identify himself. The witness also told the court the defendant claimed to be from St. John and was helping stranded boaters at the time they were captured.

But in the Friday verdict, jurors found the defendant not guilty of attempting to bring illegal immigrants into the United States on three separate counts.

The maximum penalty for making false statements is five years in prison. Chinnery also faces the possibility of paying a fine and serving up to five years in prison for failing to heave to when he is sentenced.

Crime/Police

Tensions Flare as Parents Confront Elmore Stoutt High School Staff Over Contraband Crackdown

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PHOTO: Confiscated items displayed in a slideshow at the recent ESHS PTA meeting, highlighting ongoing security concerns.

A crackdown on contraband at Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) has sparked heated confrontations between parents and school officials, with administrators raising concerns about aggressive behavior from guardians and a troubling rise in prohibited items on campus.

In a letter sent to parents on February 20, Principal Vanessa Garraway revealed that routine searches at the school uncovered a significant amount of contraband and illegal substances among students. The alarming findings prompted stricter policies and the involvement of School Resource Officers from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). However, instead of cooperation, some parents have responded with hostility.

“We have seen an increase in parents arriving at school and behaving aggressively towards teachers and administrators,” the letter stated. “This type of behavior will not be tolerated.”

The issue of contraband at the school has been growing, and the administration is now taking a tougher stance. Effective February 24, students caught with prohibited items will not only face confiscation but will also be sent home immediately, with an accompanying suspension. Parents will be required to collect their child in such cases.

“We need parents to do more,” Garraway urged in the letter. “It is your responsibility to check your child’s belongings before they leave for school and have open conversations about the importance of following school rules and making positive choices.”

In response to the escalating situation, School Resource Officers have been stationed on campus to curb violent incidents, monitor student behavior, and enforce discipline. Their presence aims to deter misconduct, particularly in light of growing concerns over students making threats, whether serious or in jest. The school has made it clear that any such threats will be reported directly to the RVIPF.

“We are taking a no-nonsense approach,” Garraway wrote, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

The Ministry of Education has also weighed in, calling on parents to take a more active role in supporting efforts to maintain a secure learning environment. “Recent routine inspections continue to uncover prohibited items which pose serious risks to students’ health and well-being,” the Ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry reiterated that matters involving weapons, alcohol, and drugs will be referred to the RVIPF and the Social Development Department for further intervention. Additionally, officials reminded parents that mobile phones are not among the approved devices for use during the school day.

“We are reinforcing a Zero Tolerance Policy for any behavior or possession of items that compromise school safety,” the Ministry stated. “Our goal is to provide a safe and secure learning environment where students can focus on their education without unnecessary disruptions.”

As ESHS moves forward with these new measures, school officials and the Ministry of Education continue to uphold policies aimed at ensuring a structured and secure environment for all students.

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Crime/Police

BVI Native Trevor Hughes’ Fiancée Badly Beaten in Deadly Bronx Parking Dispute

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Trevor Hughes, a British Virgin Islands native, was fatally shot, and his fiancée was brutally beaten in a violent dispute over a blocked driveway in the Bronx, authorities said.

Hughes, 49, and his fiancée, 47, had just returned home around 2 a.m. on February 8 when they found a car parked in front of their driveway on Fowler Avenue. After Hughes attempted to resolve the issue by calling 311 and notifying police, the situation escalated. According to authorities, 41-year-old Fallon Wise attacked Hughes’ fiancée, leaving her with multiple facial fractures, including a broken nose and shattered teeth.

During the assault, Hughes was allegedly shot in the abdomen by 46-year-old Lavar Davis. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Davis, who has a history of violent crime, including a prior murder conviction in Schenectady, is charged with second-degree murder. Wise faces charges of assault and harassment.

Hughes, a father of four and a well-known DJ known as DJ Dread, was described as a beloved member of his community. His family expressed devastation, calling the attack “senseless violence over something so petty.”

Both Davis and Wise remain in custody as the investigation continues.

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Crime/Police

Governor Accepts Resignation of ACP Pam Trevillion from the RVIPF

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The Governor of the British Virgin Islands, Daniel Pruce, has formally accepted the resignation of Assistant Commissioner Pam Trevillion from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). In an official memorandum dated February 14, Governor Pruce confirmed Trevillion’s resignation, with her last day of service set for March 8.

Governor Pruce expressed his gratitude for Trevillion’s contributions to the security of the Virgin Islands, stating, “I should like to take this opportunity to thank you for the significant contribution you have made to the security of the Virgin Islands during your tenure at the RVIPF. I wish you every success for the future.”

In the letter which was shared on the official HM Governor’s Office Facebook page, Pruce noted that he had copied the memorandum to Acting Commissioner Vanterpool, the Deputy Governor, and members of the National Security Council (NSC) and the Police Service Commission (PoSC), ensuring that the necessary administrative processes would proceed accordingly.

The official reason for Trevillion’s resignation has not been publicly disclosed.

Previously, reports surfaced on February 12 suggesting that Trevillion had tendered her resignation, but Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool had stated that she had not been informed of any such resignation. JTV News reached out to the Office of the Governor for confirmation and awaited a response at that time. The RVIPF also responded to media claims that ACP Trevillion had been placed on forced leave, labeling those reports as “erroneous, misleading, and misinformation.”

In a statement issued on February 10, the RVIPF clarified that there had been no physical confrontation between Vanterpool and Trevillion, and denied any allegations of an investigation—particularly one related to assault—being initiated against the assistant commissioner. Vanterpool urged media outlets to verify information before publication, emphasizing that misinformation could have reputational consequences for both individuals and the RVIPF. No further details were provided regarding Trevillion’s employment status at that time.

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