David Whitaker Designated as Cooperating Witness by Feds in Government Fraud and Corruption Cases

Federal prosecutors delay Whitaker’s sentencing to 2026 to leverage his testimony in trials involving Martinez, O'Neal, White, and Hendricks; the court removes the complex case designation for White and Hendricks, streamlining their proceedings.

ST. THOMAS — David Whitaker is now being described by the federal government as a cooperating witness — a designation being made public for the first time — as prosecutors and defense counsel filed a joint motion on Thursday to delay his sentencing, currently scheduled for April 7. The motion brings to the fore Whitaker's critical role in ongoing legal proceedings, positioning him as a key figure in multiple high-profile cases with potential far-reaching implications.

“The United States anticipates calling Defendant Whitaker as a cooperating witness at two different trials, which are not anticipated to conclude until the end of 2025,” the motion said, referring to the trials of Ray Martinez and Jenifer O'Neal, as well as Calvert White and Benjamin Hendricks.

Last September, Mr. Whitaker pleaded guilty to offering at least one government official bribes in exchange for expedited payments of his company's invoices. Pushing back his sentencing hearing until after January 5, 2026 will “allow for the Court to consider Defendant Whitaker's testimony” in the matters against the former government officials when making its determination about his ultimate punishment.