Mon Ethos's David Whitaker.
The V.I. Dept. of Justice announced today that it has officially dismissed its civil lawsuit and motion for injunctive relief against Mon Ethos Pro Support, LLC (MEPSVI) and David Whitaker.
The legal action sought to recover and preserve data and physical property in the possession and control of the company, which the DOJ deemed essential for ongoing investigations.
The civil lawsuit, initiated after Mon Ethos allegedly refused to return critical electronic devices and data, led to the V.I. Superior Court granting the government a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on August 8, 2024. The order was later extended to August 29, 2024. The court also instructed both parties to devise a plan to transfer the disputed items back to the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), with a notice to be filed in court upon completion of the transfer.
As a direct result of the lawsuit, a Mon Ethos representative appeared at the VIPD on Thursday, August 22, 2024, handing over the contested property, which included devices critical to active investigations. This transfer effectively resolved the dispute that had led to the lawsuit.
“Our suit was predicated on the defendants’ refusal to return physical devices that were entrusted to them, following demands by the Government and threats to delete data,” said Attorney General Nominee Gordon Rhea. He emphasized that the objectives of the lawsuit were met, noting that the DOJ's efforts led to the return of 54 electronic devices, along with VIPD’s GrayKey, a specialized tool used to unlock and retrieve data from other electronic devices.
With the successful recovery of these items, the DOJ filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal, signaling the end of the legal action against Mon Ethos. Attorney General Nominee Rhea extended his gratitude to Assistant Attorney General Jalicha Persad and Venetia Velázquez, Chief of the Civil Division, for their dedication and hard work in achieving this outcome.
Advertisements
