ST. THOMAS — On February 21 a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Jeffrey Cole, 57, of St. Thomas, charging him with failing to register as a sex offender, United States Attorney Gretchen Shappert announced. Cole appeared in court today before Federal Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller, where he entered a plea of not guilty. Cole’s trial date is scheduled for April 15, 2019.
According to the indictment and court records, Cole was convicted for voyeurism in the State of Ohio in 2009. He moved to the State of Georgia where he registered as a sex offender. Cole relocated to the Virgin Islands in 2018, and failed to register.
Under federal law, Cole faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the United States Marshal Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
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