Community Center

Multiple High-Profile Inmates Among 11 Granted Parole by VI Board

Of the 24 parole applications that came before the Virgin Islands Parole Board in December 2023, 11 have been granted, according to a release issued by the board. Additionally, three applicants decided not to appear before the board and 10 were judged not to have been sufficiently rehabilitated and were denied parole at this time.  The recently paroled include those serving time for causing the deaths of others: Julius Viera, Carlos Acosta, Edgar Ortiz-Carmona, and Kaleb Lopez Josue. Viera was found guilty of several felonies including voluntary manslaughter after a 2013 shooting incident on Market Street in Christiansted left Ronald Coulon dead and two others wounded. Acosta, Ortiz-Carmona, an Josue, meanwhile, were serving time for the 2008 killing of Dwayne Lynch on St. Thomas. Lester Roberts had been convicted of voluntary manslaughter and attempted murder.  Others who gained parole in December had been previously convicted of gun crimes including illegal firearm possession and u...