VIPD units on the Melvin Evans Highway. By. ERNICE GILBERT, V.I. CONSORTIUM.
The Office of the Territorial Public Defender (OTPD) is calling for immediate disclosure from local law enforcement and the V.I. Department of Justice in light of recent revelations surrounding David Whitaker, the former head of the Office of Data Discovery and Forensic Analysis (ODDFA) and Mon Ethos entities, who has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and bribery charges.
The OTPD is urging the V.I. DOJ to release information on all criminal prosecutions that involved ODDFA, Mon Ethos entities, or any other organizations led by Whitaker. These entities were responsible for handling crucial evidence in various cases, some of which now may be called into question due to Whitaker’s criminal actions.
Chief Territorial Public Defender Julie S. Todman expressed serious concerns regarding the integrity of evidence in these cases. "Virgin Islanders have been and continue to be prosecuted by evidence that was being held in trust by this now-admitted criminal, and the OTPD demands identification of those cases. The OTPD is committed to pursuing its inquiry into this revelation and will seek all avenues for justice if the authorities refuse to make a willing disclosure," Todman stated.
The plea deal of David Whitaker has raised significant concerns within the OTPD, especially regarding the reliability of evidence collected or analyzed by ODDFA and Mon Ethos entities. For more than two years, the V.I. Police Department entrusted critical pieces of evidence, including cell phones from suspects, to Whitaker’s companies. "Our Police Department entrusted evidence to these organizations which were directed by an individual that has now pleaded guilty to fraud and bribery. Further, the VI Department of Justice relied upon this evidence in an unknown number of prosecutions," Chief Todman added.
According to the statement, the extent of Whitaker’s involvement in local criminal cases is still unfolding, and the OTPD fears that the impact may be much broader than initially understood. While references to ODDFA have been found in some police reports, Chief Todman cautioned that this may only represent "the tip of the iceberg."
In a related civil suit filed by the Government of the Virgin Islands against Mon Ethos Pro Support LLC, documents show that Whitaker's companies held dozens of physical evidence items, including cell phones of individuals under investigation by the VIPD. The OTPD said this revelation has amplified concerns about the handling and processing of evidence in numerous cases.
The OTPD plays a critical role in representing indigent criminal defendants in the U.S. Virgin Islands, handling the majority of local criminal cases. As such, the office is determined to pursue justice and accountability regarding any compromised evidence that may have been used in these cases.
