Crime

St. Croix Man Faces Federal Charges of Producing Child Pornography and Rape

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...