Former Army JAG and Senior Defense Counsel 25+ years defending service members Courts-martial defense worldwide
Reviewed by Michael Waddington, Founding Partner Updated September 1, 2026
Gonzalez & Waddington defends Virgin Islands National Guard members, Coast Guard personnel, and service members on federal duty in the USVI against UCMJ investigations, Article 15 proceedings, administrative separations, and courts-martial.
Attorneys Michael Waddington and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington serve as relentless civilian counsel for service members facing investigations and courts-martial in the Virgin Islands, traveling to represent clients worldwide. CID and CGIS are active in the territory, pursuing allegations ranging from sexual assault and drug offenses to domestic violence and financial misconduct across VING commands on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
Cases in the USVI frequently involve the Virgin Islands National Guard Joint Force Headquarters at Estate Bethlehem, Kingshill, St. Croix, and the VI ANG at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. Because personnel often serve in small military communities near Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted, a single allegation can travel through command channels rapidly, triggering parallel civilian and military investigations before any formal charges are filed.
Contact Gonzalez & Waddington at 1-800-921-8607 for a free, confidential consultation.
Table Contents
If you are searching for a U.S. Virgin Islands military defense lawyer, a court-martial attorney in the Virgin Islands, or a civilian military defense lawyer for a UCMJ investigation in the Caribbean, you are likely facing a serious military justice matter. Although the U.S. Virgin Islands does not contain a large active-duty military installation like Fort Bragg, Naval Station Norfolk, or Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, service members assigned to the territory remain fully subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) whenever federal military jurisdiction applies.
Military personnel assigned to the Virgin Islands National Guard, Coast Guard units, Reserve components, federal task forces, homeland security missions, disaster response operations, joint training exercises, and temporary duty assignments can face the same criminal exposure as service members stationed anywhere else in the world.
Once allegations arise, investigations can escalate quickly. What begins as a complaint, police report, command inquiry, domestic dispute, alcohol-related incident, social media allegation, or sexual assault complaint may rapidly evolve into a CID, NCIS, OSI, CGIS, or command investigation. Those investigations may ultimately result in Article 15 proceedings, administrative separation, Boards of Inquiry, security clearance actions, or court-martial charges.
Gonzalez & Waddington represents service members worldwide in serious military criminal cases. The firm focuses exclusively on military defense, court-martial litigation, administrative separation boards, Article 15 proceedings, officer misconduct matters, security clearance issues, and high-risk UCMJ investigations.
The Virgin Islands occupies a unique position within the United States military structure. Unlike states with major Army posts, Navy fleets, or Air Force wings, military operations in the territory are often connected to:
Because personnel often work in smaller military communities, allegations can spread quickly through command channels. A single accusation may affect promotions, security clearances, special duty assignments, and deployment opportunities long before charges are ever filed.
Most military justice cases do not begin with formal charges.
Instead, cases frequently start through:
Once military authorities become involved, investigators often move quickly to collect evidence before the accused understands the scope of the allegations.
Early intervention frequently changes the trajectory of a case.
A civilian military defense lawyer may help:
In many cases, critical evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance footage may be overwritten. Witnesses may relocate. Phone records may become unavailable. Social media content may be deleted.
Military personnel stationed or serving in the Virgin Islands may face the full range of UCMJ allegations.
Common cases include:
Sexual assault allegations are among the most aggressively prosecuted military offenses.
Virgin Islands cases may involve allegations arising from:
These cases often depend heavily upon:
Domestic disputes frequently trigger military investigations in smaller military communities.
A domestic incident occurring in:
may quickly become both a civilian and military matter.
Even if local authorities decline prosecution, commanders may still pursue:
Drug-related allegations remain common throughout military commands.
Cases may involve:
Because Caribbean jurisdictions have different local laws and cultural attitudes toward certain substances, misunderstandings sometimes arise when military members interact with civilian communities.
Military jurisdiction remains governed by federal law and the UCMJ regardless of local attitudes.
Many military legal matters in the territory involve National Guard personnel.
Important issues often include:
Jurisdictional questions may significantly affect available legal defenses.
The Caribbean region presents unique issues for Coast Guard personnel.
Investigations may involve:
These investigations frequently involve extensive documentation, operational records, communications logs, and federal agency coordination.
The following examples are hypothetical and provided solely for educational purposes.
Military justice cases in the Virgin Islands often involve unique logistical issues.
Evidence may be located across multiple islands.
Witnesses may:
Additional complications can involve:
You should seek legal counsel immediately if:
This video explains what your rights are and how experienced criminal defense lawyers can make a difference.
Facing a military investigation, UCMJ allegation, or serious criminal charge? Gonzalez & Waddington provides trial-focused defense for high-stakes cases. Call 1-800-921-8607 or text 954-799-4019 for a confidential, no-cost consultation.
