US Virgin Islands transfers inmates to mainland (AP)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Virgin Islands government has transferred 66 male inmates to the U.S. mainland to improve security at a prison that federal officials have said is out of control.

The transfer of inmates from the Golden Grove prison on the island of St. Croix to prisons in Virginia and Florida was planned months before the federal government requested to take over the prison, Gov. John de Jongh said in a statement late Friday.

"By moving some of our prisoners to off-island institutions, we can continue to improve conditions at Golden Grove," he said.

The families of the transferred inmates will be notified in coming days and will be able to talk with them via teleconferencing, de Jongh said.

On June 9, the U.S. Justice Department requested receivership of Golden Grove prison, accusing the local government of ignoring 25 years worth of court orders to improve what it says are dangerous and deplorable conditions.

Golden Grove prison houses roughly 400 inmates.

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Drugs on Virgin Islands boat nets US man 5 years (AP)

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – An American boat captain has been sentenced to five years in prison in the British Virgin Islands for his drug-smuggling conviction.

Ronald Weisel was captain of the 39-foot Captain Ron in December 2008 when police searched the boat and found 56 kilograms of cocaine. Authorities valued the load at $5.6 million. The New York native was living in St. Thomas at the time.

Weisel was convicted in April of charges that included importation of cocaine. Another man on board was acquitted at a separate trial.

Judge Valerie Stephens imposed Weisel's sentence Monday. She rejected a request from the defendant's brother to release Weisel to seek psychiatric help for a brain injury from a 1984 car accident.

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