Carol Thomas-Jacobs

Carol Thomas-Jacobs
Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands
Acting
In office
January 1, 2023 – April 14, 2023
GovernorAlbert Bryan
Preceded byDenise George
Succeeded byAriel K. Smith (acting)
Personal details
Born1968 or 1969 (age 56–57)
Antigua
EducationUniversity of the West Indies, Jamaica (JD)

Carol Thomas-Jacobs (1968/1969)[1] is a judge on the United States Virgin Islands Superior Court. She was the acting Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands from January to April 2023.

Life

Thomas-Jacobs worked for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice for 20 years, first serving as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division, then as head of the Civil Division.[2] In 2016, she became deputy attorney general.[2] She was promoted to chief deputy attorney general in 2020.[3][2]

Acting Attorney General

She was appointed by Governor Albert Bryan to replace Denise George as the acting Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands on January 1, 2023.[4]

On January 20, 2023, Thomas-Jacobs executed a settlement agreement with billionaire Leon Black to resolve potential claims regarding his financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Under the terms of the agreement, Black paid the U.S. Virgin Islands $62.5 million to be used for mental health and social services. In exchange, the agreement "irrevocably releases and forever discharges" Black from any claims related to Epstein, "whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected," for any events occurring prior to the execution of the deal.[5]

During her tenure, Thomas-Jacobs also oversaw the territory's high-profile lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, which had been filed by her predecessor days before Thomas-Jacobs took office. In January 2023, Thomas-Jacobs' office filed an amended complaint alleging that former bank executive Jes Staley had a "profound friendship" with Epstein and exchanged approximately 1,200 emails with him from his professional account.[6] Thomas-Jacobs' office successfully opposed the bank's motion to dismiss the lawsuit; in March 2023, a federal judge ruled that the case could proceed to trial.[7]

In February 2023, Thomas-Jacobs' office also sought to enforce subpoenas against billionaire Les Wexner, seeking documents regarding his financial ties to Epstein. Court filings indicate that process servers hired by her office were repeatedly blocked by security guards at Wexner's Ohio home and the Wexner Foundation while attempting to serve the subpoenas.[8]

In addition to the Epstein-related litigation, Thomas-Jacobs oversaw the territory's local criminal prosecutions. In February 2023, her office filed a 16-count criminal information against Rodney Miller, the former CEO of the Schneider Regional Medical Center, charging him with embezzlement and falsification of public accounts following a retrial order by the Supreme Court.[9] That same month, she announced the conviction of Oral Christopher Smith for first-degree murder in a 2018 domestic violence case.[10]

In March 2023, Bryan nominated Thomas-Jacobs to the United States Virgin Islands Superior Court.[2] She was confirmed to the superior court by the legislature on April 14, 2023.[11] Thomas-Jacobs was succeeded by Ariel K. Smith.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rules votes favorably on Bryan nominees to posts". 12 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bryan Nominates Acting Attorney General Carol Thomas-Jacobs For Superior Court Judgeship". St. Thomas Source. 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  3. ^ Klasfeld, Adam (2023-01-02). "Virgin Islands Attorney General Loses Her Job Days After Suing JPMorgan Chase in Connection with the Jeffrey Epstein Probe". Law & Crime. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  4. ^ Carlson, Suzanne (January 1, 2023). "Bryan terminates Attorney General Denise George". The Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  5. ^ "Settlement Agreement and Release: Government of the United States Virgin Islands and Leon Black" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on Finance. 2023-01-20. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  6. ^ Cobb, Sian (January 20, 2023). "AG Levels New Allegations in Amended Complaint Against JPMorgan Chase". St. Thomas Source. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  7. ^ Cobb, Sian (March 21, 2023). "Judge Denies — In Part — JPMorgan's Bid to Dismiss Epstein Suit". St. Thomas Source. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  8. ^ Cobb, Sian (February 23, 2023). "USVI Prosecutors Say Security Guards Blocked Service of Subpoena on Billionaire Les Wexner". St. Thomas Source. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  9. ^ "Acting AG Carol Thomas-Jacobs: Rodney E. Miller, Sr. advised of rights and arraigned on a 16-Count Information". Government of the United States Virgin Islands. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  10. ^ "Jury Finds Oral Christopher Smith Guilty of 2018 Murder". St. Thomas Source. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  11. ^ Carlson, Suzanne (April 15, 2023). "Senators confirm Carol Thomas-Jacobs as Superior Court Judge". The Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  12. ^ "Bryan Taps Ariel K. Smith as Nominee for Attorney General". St. Thomas Source. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
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