Mon Ethos Holding VIPD Equipment ‘Hostage’ for $479K Payment, Complaint Alleges

Mon Ethos Pro Support — the company that contracted with the VIPD for cybersecurity services.

Mon Ethos Pro Support — the company that contracted with the VIPD for cybersecurity services in a deal that is now the apparent focus of an FBI probe — is holding VIPD equipment “hostage” and threatening to delete sensitive data unless it is paid $479,795 it claims it is due, according to a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunction the government filed on Friday in V.I. Superior Court.

Among the equipment the company is allegedly refusing to return to the VIPD is a GrayKey — an item that lets police hack into mobile devices and retrieve encrypted information.

According to the verified complaint alleging a breach of contract and accompanying memorandum of law, Mon Ethos demanded payment of $479,795 on June 15 “and threatened that data would be ‘lost’ if payment was not immediately remitted.” It was around the same time that the FBI announced that Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and Office of Management and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal were the targets of a federal investigation regarding the government’s contract with Mon Ethos. Within days, both officials had resigned.