St. Croix, VI – In a disturbing case of child exploitation, a federal jury convicted Dante James, 28, of St. Croix, on production of child pornography and second-degree rape charges. The conviction comes after a trial that revealed shocking details of James’s abuse of a 16-year-old minor.
According to evidence presented at trial, between January 1, 2021, and August 23, 2022, James engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexually explicit conduct with the minor. James produced a video recording of the sexual acts with the minor using devices shipped in interstate and foreign commerce. The victim only learned of the recording after it was posted on social media, and immediately reported the incident to the Virgin Islands Police Department and provided them with a copy of the video.
“Sexual abuse impacts our entire community and exposes its victims to a lifetime of trauma. It is particularly heinous when sexual predators exploit our young children. We remain committed to fully seeking justice for victims of child exploitation and sexual abuse by prosecuting sex offenders of the law in hopes of creating a safe community for our children”, said United States Attorney Delia L. Smith.
“The defendant’s sexual abuse was also an abuse of trust”, said Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eugene Thomas. As the victim’s former steel pan instructor, James abused her trust to be a role model and a leader. HSI will continue to work with the Virgin Islands Police Department to ensure that predators who prey on minors in our community are convicted of their crimes.
James awaits sentencing on a date to be set by District Judge Wilma Lewis. For his conviction, James faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years incarceration on the federal production of child pornography charge, and a maximum of 10 years incarceration on the local second-degree rape charge.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Virgin Islands Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rhonda Williams-Henry and Everard Potter. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the U.S. government. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
In a statement, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith reiterated the importance of protecting children from predators like James. “Sexual abuse has a lasting impact on its victims, and it is crucial that we hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served for victims of child exploitation and abuse.”
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in protecting our children. As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to support efforts to combat child abuse and exploitation. By working together, we can create a safer community for our children.
Related Federal Cases
- James Troy Martin, Receiving Child Pornography, Illinois 2023 · Connecticut
- James Sumner Convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography, Cedar Rapid… · North Carolina
- Peter Joseph Hickel Jr., Attempted Production of Child Pornography, Alaska 2023 · Illinois
- Benjamin Roundy, Child Exploitation and Child Pornography Production, Alaska 2023 · Alaska
- Matthew William Schwier, Possession of Child Pornography, Alaska 2016 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Virgin Islands
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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