Crime

Judgement On Wayne James Could Be Delivered Anytime Soon

ST. THOMAS -- Former senator Wayne James since Monday has been in District Court here attempting to defend himself against several charges brought by federal prosecutors, charges that include two counts of wire fraud and one count of federal program embezzlement. Late Tuesday, both sides completed their arguments and the jury's deliberation continued into Wednesday evening, as Mr. James's fate hung in the balance. On Wednesday, the former senator's public defender, Omodare Jupiter, had called for Judge Curtis Gomez to declare a mistrial after federal prosecutors -- even after being warned several times by Judge Gomez -- raised arguments not related to the case. Judge Gomez ultimately did not grant the mistrial request, but he did chastise the federal prosecutors for not hiding his warning. According to a federal indictment, while serving between 2009 and 2011 as chair of the Senate Committee on Youth, Education and Culture in the 28th Legislature, Mr. James allegedly obt...