St. Croix Sex Trafficker Ordered to Repay Victim Services

A 32-year-old man who pleaded guilty to transporting his underage girlfriend across St. Croix to perform sex acts with an older man has been ordered to reimburse the Justice Department for the assistance they rendered to the victim. U.S. Magistrate Emile Henderson III directed defendant Zavon Acoy to repay the department’s victim services division $500.

Acoy has been in federal custody since his arrest in November 2018. He pleaded guilty in July 2021 to transporting an individual with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He faces a possible 10-year prison term upon sentencing. The magistrate has not set the hearing date for sentencing yet. Monday was listed on the District Court docket for sentencing, but a restitution hearing was held instead.

Restitution is part of the penalty. Henderson asked prosecutor Everard Potter and defense attorney Yohana Manning to clarify how much Acoy collected from codefendant James Phillip for handing over his then 17-year-old girlfriend.

Authorities were alerted to a problem when the minor went to police in November 2018 and complained that Acoy — her boyfriend — strangled her and then explained the circumstances surrounding the incident.