Two former aides to Virgin Islands Del. Stacey Plaskett (D) have been indicted on federal charges over the unauthorized leak of Plaskett's sex tape last year. <\/p>\n
According to a Justice Department press release, former general counsel Juan McCullum and schedulerDorene Browne-Louis were indicted Thursday in Washington, D.C. <\/p>\n
McCullum worked for Plaskett fromApril 2015 until June 2016 in herlegislative office in Washington, D.C. According to the statement, Browne-Louis worked in the same office from January 2015 until April 2016. <\/p>\n
According to the press release,McCullum offered in March 2016 to take Plaskett'smalfunctioning iPhone to a local Apple store for service. The device contained lewd photos shared between Plaskett and her husband, which McCullum later distributed online using a fake Facebook account. <\/p>\n
McCullum was charged with two counts of cyber stalking, while Browne-Louis was indicted on one count of obstructing justice. Prosecutors said Browne-Louis deleted text messages from McCullum from her phone and made false statements to investigators. <\/p>\n
Prosecutors added that McCullum sent many of the leaked pictures and videos to Browne-Louis in emails and text messages, the latter of which she attempted to delete. <\/p>\n
Plaskett commented on the leaks when they occurred last July, blasting the hackers for using her marriage to \"besmirchme politically. <\/p>\n
The theft and distribution of these personal images via the internet marks a new low in Virgin Islands politics. I am shocked and deeply saddened that someone would stoop to such a level as to invade my marriage and the love of my family in an attempt to besmirch me politically, Plaskett said last July. <\/p>\n
Private photographs shared between my husband and me, as well as a private playful video of our family, including one of our children, were illegally obtained and disseminated via the internet. To say my family and I are greatly upset would be a tremendous understatement,\" sheadded. <\/p>\n
\"As a mother, I am outraged that one of my children was exploited in such a way. The theft and dissemination of these images via the internet is a shockingly disgusting invasion of my familys and my privacy not to mention criminal acts in violation of both territorial and federal law.\" <\/p>\n
According to the Justice Department, cyber stalking carries a maximum of five years in prison, while obstruction of justice charges carry a much higher maximum sentence of 20 years. <\/p>\n
Browne-Louis made her first court appearance today according to the release, and plead not guilty. McCullum's first appearance in court has not yet been scheduled. <\/p>\n
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Two former aides indicted over release of Virgin Islands delegate sex tape - The Hill<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Two former aides to Virgin Islands Del. Stacey Plaskett (D) have been indicted on federal charges over the unauthorized leak of Plaskett's sex tape last year. According to a Justice Department press release, former general counsel Juan McCullum and schedulerDorene Browne-Louis were indicted Thursday in Washington, D.C Continue reading