Mon Ethos Case Minus a Judge as VIPD Seeks Return of Sensitive Data, Property

The V.I. Justice Department complaint against Mon Ethos Pro Support

The V.I. Justice Department complaint against Mon Ethos Pro Support — the cybersecurity company accused of holding critical VIPD data and equipment “hostage” over a $500,000 payment — is minus a judge after Carol Thomas-Jacobs recused herself from the case on Thursday. The move comes as the DOJ asked the court to impose a Friday deadline to retrieve the disputed property. Whether the government’s proposed Friday deadline will be enforced is unclear now that the case is absent a presiding judge.

Thomas-Jacobs filed her notice of recusal on Thursday morning, returning the case to the Clerk of Court for reassignment after Mon Ethos owner David Whitaker sought her disqualification because she was involved in a murder investigation that he worked on and discussed with her in 2022 when she was attorney general.