Judge accepts Mon Ethos founder's guilty plea

ST. CROIX — A U.S. District Court judge has accepted a guilty plea entered by cybersecurity company founder David Whitaker.

A sentencing date has not been set, but District Court Judge Mark Kearney ordered that one be “promptly” scheduled. On Friday, Kearney wrote that the court approved a Magistrate judge’s report and recommendation, and accepted Whitaker’s guilty plea. The court will “promptly schedule sentencing allowing for a pre-sentence investigation report and briefing,” according to the filing.

Whitaker pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds in an agreement signed in March 2024. The agreement was made public when a judge ordered that the case be unsealed earlier this month.

Federal prosecutors filed documents charging Whitaker on Sept. 3, and a judge agreed to seal the case until Sept. 12, when Whitaker appeared before the court. Magistrate Judge Emile Henderson III filed a recommendation that Whitaker’s plea be accepted on Sept. 12.