Mugshot of Dante James. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — Dante James, a 27-year-old resident of St. Croix, has been indicted on charges of producing child pornography and second-degree rape, according to an announcement made by United States Attorney Delia L. Smith on Wednesday.
James appeared before Magistrate Judge Emile Henderson, III, for his initial appearance hearing after the indictment was unsealed today in federal court.
Court documents show that James engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexually explicit conduct with a minor between January 1, 2021, and August 23, 2022. He produced video recordings of these acts using devices shipped in interstate and foreign commerce.
The case is being investigated jointly by the Virgin Islands Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Evan Rikhye as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet and to identify and rescue victims. The nationwide initiative marshals federal, state, and local resources to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
United States Attorney Delia L. Smith reminded the public that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Advertisements
