ST. CROIX — Police Commissioner Ray Martinez has resigned after being implicated in an ongoing federal investigation, according to Richard Motta, Government House spokesperson.
After serving about three years on the job, Martinez resigned during a time when the Virgin Islands Police Department is hosting a national symposium of law enforcement officers on St. Thomas.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. accepted Martinez’s resignation in adherence to the administration’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption to ensure the integrity of the territory’s law enforcement efforts, Motta wrote in a text message to WTJX.
Motta noted that the administration will fully cooperate with the federal investigation, stressing its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and accountability within the Virgin Islands government.
Senator Kenneth Gittens, Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety chair, stressed the need for the establishment of an Ethics and Conflict of Interest Commission to address integrity issues while reacting to the news of Martinez’s resignation.
“I must say that I'm deeply saddened, dismayed, and outraged by the recent announcements of arrests and investigations of local officials,” he said. “Surprised I must say I'm not. But I am happy to know that investigations are taking place. If we can't police ourselves and don't police ourselves, someone will do it for us. That said, we must wait for further information and not rush to judgment at this time.”
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While Martinez resigned after being implicated in an ongoing federal probe, an official with the VI Department of Education was recently arrested for allegedly stealing federal disaster relief program funds.
Davidson Charlemagne, VIDE Maintenance director, 50, and his wife, Sasha Charlemagne, 44, both of St. Croix, were arrested after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging them with government program fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Delia Smith announced last Thursday.
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The Department of Education wrote in an email to WTJX last Friday that the department has placed Davidson Charlemagne on leave without pay.
Darin Richardson, former VI Housing Finance Authority chief operating officer, 56, of St. Thomas, is charged in the indictment with criminal conflict of interest and making materially false statements.
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“As alleged, these defendants exploited hurricane recovery efforts in order to develop and carry out a $4 million scheme to defraud taxpayers,” Smith said in a statement.
According to court documents, the charges stem from a two-year investigation involving a VIHFA contract for storage and management of wood that was shipped to the territory to be used for the reconstruction of commercial and residential buildings following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated in a press release.
As a career law enforcement officer, Gittens said he was particularly disturbed about the potential involvement of someone entrusted to protect and serve the community while discussing Martinez’s resignation after being implicated in an ongoing federal investigation.
“These kinds of allegations create a culture of lawlessness that is very difficult to combat,” Gittens said. “It is also hard to comprehend that any Virgin Islander that lived through Hurricanes Irma and Maria, could be part of any scheme that would further delay or divert funds and materials designated for the rebuilding of our territory. This is a very sad chapter in Virgin Islands history.”
Gittens said he is renewing his call during this budget season to properly fund the Office of the Inspector General so that it can conduct proper and thorough investigations and not just audits.
“I will also call on my colleagues in the 35th Legislature to support the establishment of an Ethics and Conflict of Interest Commission to address integrity issues,” he said.
Senator Franklin Johnson said he questioned Martinez under subpoena in a Senate hearing on January 31 about the police department’s contract for traffic and security cameras with Mon Ethos, which he noted is part of the federal investigation. He said he has yet to receive a copy of the contract.
“And the reason for me asking these questions; I was already tipped off that there's some hanky-panky going on with this contract and the way this company is being run, and his association with the owners, and different allegations,” Johnson said, adding there was never any proof of anything.
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Johnson said that was the last time he questioned Martinez in Senate because he started sending representatives, suggesting the former police commissioner was avoiding the hearings.
“This is just ridiculous that we reach in such a position here; people that we put in position to represent the people and do the people’s duties are doing duties for themselves,” he said. “It’s a very sad day in the Virgin Islands when you’re hearing all the allegations with the federal, and the different corruption. It's a shame but sometimes this needs to happen for us to have a clear path going forward and making sure that the money that comes to this territory be invested in the people of this territory.”
Martinez led the Law Enforcement Planning Commission for about two years before the governor nominated him in July 2021 to serve as police commissioner following the retirement of then-Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor. Prior to becoming the LEPC director, Martinez previously worked in the VIPD for 12 years, serving in various roles to include Internal Affairs director, and Intelligence director. He resigned as police commissioner just as the VIPD welcomed federal, state, and local partners to participate in a five-day symposium that started today on St. Thomas.
The VIPD is hosting the National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies 2024 Symposium for the first time through Thursday at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef. The theme is “Forging State and Caribbean Alliances: Combatting the Drug Trade, Human Trafficking, and Violent Crime.” The theme is designed to bring together federal, state, and local partners of drug enforcement agencies as well as to develop and maintain a stronger alliance among the territory’s Caribbean partners in the areas of drug enforcement, weapons, and human trafficking interdiction.
This is a developing story. Motta confirmed any additional information will be shared during a press briefing scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at Government House on St. Thomas.
