Defense to Question Key Witness Monday in Martinez, O’Neal Trial

Attorneys for former V.I. Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former Management and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal are slated to question cooperating witness David Whitaker when the former cabinet members’ federal corruption trial resumes Monday on St. Thomas.

The basic contours of the government’s case against Martinez and O’Neal have been widely known since January, when a federal grand jury indicted the pair on charges of wire fraud, bribery and money laundering for allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in kickbacks through a federally-funded contract for surveillance cameras awarded to Whitaker’s company, Mon Ethos Pro Support. According to the indictment, Martinez received more than $110,000 in bribes from Whitaker in the form of kitchen equipment for his restaurant, first-class airfare, luxury resort stays and tuition payments for his children’s private school.

The duo tried to mask the payments by claiming they were for a planned TV show called “Steak Out,” in which Martinez would cook steak while he and other officers discussed interesting cases.

Martinez allegedly helped Whitaker land a $1.4 million camera contract for the V.I. Police Department funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. O’Neal, prosecutors alleged, signed off on inflated invoices in exchange for $17,730 that Whitaker wired to cover the security deposit and two months’ rent for a coffee shop O’Neal planned to open in Yacht Haven Grande.