Former Police Chief Benta Charges Governor, Other Officials With Conspiracy In His “de facto” Termination
Former St. Croix District Police Chief Oakland Benta has charged Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr., and other government officials with conspiracy in events that led to his ongoing suspension and “de facto” termination from the police department.
The charges stem from a July 2009 incident at the home of former ICC owner Jeffrey Prosser when Benta accompanied officials from the Christie’s Auction House to inspect and take possession of the contents of a wine cellar at the residence.
The inspection was part of the ongoing bankruptcy litigation against Prosser for whom Benta formerly worked as Chief of Security at Innovative Communications Corporation.
In his complaint filed in the St. Croix District Court, Benta states that the Christies agents entered the wine cellar but did not remove its contents. Following the inspection, Benta entered the cellar and noticed that the air conditioning unit had been unplugged. Temperature control is critical to the preservation of wines and the lack of it will result in the spoilage of the wine.
According to the complaint, “after review and believing that one or more crimes may have been committed,” Benta filed an official police report in September, 2009, concerning the July incident and as a result of the investigation that followed; subpoenas were issued by the Virgin Islands Attorney General’s office for the two Christie’s employees who entered the wine cellar.
But on December 8, 2009, during a hearing on the Prosser bankruptcy, a representative of the AG’s office told the court that his office had “no knowledge” of any criminal investigation in process related to the wine cellar event.
In a deposition taken later that month, Charles Antin, one of the Christie’s employees who had entered the wine cellar, that he had instructed his fellow colleague, Mr. Mike Moser, to unplug the air conditioning unit.
The complaint goes on to state that in December of 2011, Benta was approached by both an attorney for the trustees who were managing the assets during the bankruptcy and an FBI agent who encouraged him to “cause the termination of the investigation:” into the incident. Benta refused.
Then on December 27, 2011, Benta received a letter from Acting Police Commissioner Henry White informing him that a letter recommending his termination for his actions related to the wine cellar incident had been submitted to Governor deJongh for approval. On that same date, Benta was placed on administrative leave without pay and ordered to return all property related to his duties as a member of the police force. He was further informed that he was not to return to police headquarters at any time without advance notice.
And in a final twist, when Benta notified the Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents law enforcement personnel, of these actions, the PBA informed him that he was not entitled to any relief from the union because “they had no record of him being a police officer.”
Benta is seeking both punitive and compensatory damages in the matter.
Benta Complaint
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King Liar is Oakland Benta. Lie say lie is he.
Lie: “The governor did not use public money to upgrade his private residence.” That is lie.
Good Oakland, bad Oakland, Oakland is not an elected official, liar or not.
@ Anonymous @ 1:13
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The way that you all on here fighting down Benta is telling me that their’s some truth into what he’s saying.
@anon 1:13
Interesting post.
Look some people will support Benta and others will not… My question is if he filed a lawsuit why all the public attention? If the truth is in there it will come out, all this extra hype is questionable. Let the court decide, but when you come to the court of public opinion you better be able to take the heat or he should have stayed away from the fire.
Ok I get it, its everybody elses fault and Benta hands are squeaky clean, give me a freakin break. Everybody else is lying and only Benta versions are the truth, hah!
Deflated power from a man with an ego as big as the state of Texas that can tell a lie better than the politicians. Give it a rest nobody is listening to you anymore. Your days of running your mouth are over just please do everybody a favor and shut the hell up!!!!
Well…the depositions should be interesting — especially that of the Governor. Lets see, sitting in a chair for hours under oath having to answer questions regarding anything. The case does not limit what type of questions either. I can hear it now, “Well that depends on the definition of what is, is?”
But we all know whose side the Judge will rule.
You should know that it is by how popular you or how loud you are like carol empty canyon ball.
If dejunk attempt to take a lie detector test it better be somewhere in the dessert cause that machine will blow to hell up. SCUM
And the same thing would happen to the machine if it was Benta. Just put this story to rest it really needs to go to bed. There are alot of bigger issues going on here like the school buses not being on the roads. He filed a case in court just let it be decided there.
lol @ 3:42. That’s the best name evah. DeJunk. lol.
Or maybe DeDrunk
i found it very strange that benta would vent on 1620 an talk radio when this man acted the way he did with the ppl in f”sted @ the fish market & pin pointing who said what to informers benta u reap what u have sowed give it ah rest its ah shame u have to swallow yo vommit & come bk to the grass root ppl fo support i a sorry to inform u yo cry shall be to late & now u in deh hot seat u know bout man wid weed (joint),howell harrassing street man u did also,& u also mentioned that day
cont THE MURDER /SUICIDE victim @ the f”sted police station family should sue the dept cause she called howell ah couple times before her death.its amazing now u have bin kicked out the hen house u can recall all the wrong doing but when u was a part of it u said nothing since u talking now DO U HAVE ANY INFO ON THE MURDER OF KENDALL PETERSEN JR.