Above: St Thomas

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The District of the Virgin Islands collected more than $3.02 million in criminal and civil actions for the fiscal year 2012, according to data released by United States Attorney Ronald Sharpe.

Of that amount, $1.67 million was collected in criminal actions and $1.35 million was collected in civil actions.

That number was led by a $1.5 million recovery in a criminal case involving the illegal import, export, purchase and sale of black coral.

“These collections demonstrate the US Attorney’s Office’s commitment to protecting the public and recovering funds for the federal treasury and for victims of federal crime,” Sharpe said. “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit from their illegal activities, and ensure that federal crime victims are compensated for their losses.”

US Attorneys’ offices collected $13.1 billion in civil and criminal actions during the fiscal year 2012 nationwide.