Prisoners illegally transported to USVI

by Susan Mann
Caribbean Net News St Thomas Correspondent

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

ST THOMAS, USVI: A clerical error on the part of Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) led to the May 16 illegal transport of two female prisoners to the US Virgin Islands from the state of Florida without the required warrant signed by Governor Jeb Bush.

Nor had the two women, Violet G. Amour, 58, or her daughter, Doborah Castillo, 40, signed a waiver of extradition. 

The women were arrested in Spring Hill, Hernando County, Florida on February 9. They had been charged in the US Virgin Islands with forgery, embezzlement, and grand larceny. They are currently a waiting a hearing in the Virgin Islands to determine whether they can continue to be legally held in custody. The two women did not have criminal records in Florida. 

According to Hernando Today online, an attorney for Castillo and Amour, John F. Lauro, has announced his intention to sue Hernando County, the Virgin Islands, CCA, and any others involved in the transport. Lauro is seeking a 1 million dollar settlement. 

In a June 21 news release from CCA, the company announced that it is "the nation's largest provider of corrections management service to government." 

Caribbean Net News attempted to reach Officer Hannah, spokesperson for the US Virgin islands Police, on June 27 to determine the status of the two women. The phone call went unanswered.

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