Whitaker Sentencing Hearing on Bribery, Fraud Charges Moved to April

At the request of the V.I. Justice Department and his attorney, David Whitaker has a new sentencing date, but exactly why is unclear as the motion seeking the change has been partially redacted “to protect sensitive information,” and a separate motion by the DOJ remains filed under seal for now.

Whitaker, the former owner of a cybersecurity company that did business with the V.I. government and became the focus of an FBI investigation, admitted to two counts of wire fraud and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds in a plea deal with prosecutors unsealed last month in V.I. District Court.

His sentencing hearing had been scheduled for Dec. 4 on St. Thomas, but on Friday the DOJ and Whitaker’s attorney David Cattie filed a joint motion to continue the hearing “to a date no sooner than September 1, 2025,” and requested that all deadlines associated with his sentencing be extended accordingly. Judge Mark A. Kearney granted the request, in part, without prejudice and rescheduled the hearing to April 7, leaving open the possibility that a further extension could be granted “upon showing good cause.”