The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General investigated the allegation that an employee of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) had prepared and issued several vehicle registrations without those vehicles having been inspected by an authorized Motor Vehicle Inspector, in violation of established rules and procedures. The investigation has confirmed that in fact the vehicles were registered without the proper inspection as required by the BMV rules and regulations. We also found that there was the unauthorized use of the inspector’s stamp for the purpose of not only the issuance of new registrations, but in the clearance of vehicles leaving the territory. As a result, we have concluded that the Office Manager: (i) violated the BMV’s operating procedures by processing the vehicle registrations without the proper inspections; (ii) manipulated the BMV’s computer system to show that the vehicles were properly inspected when they were not; and, (iii) by the repeated violations of the policies and procedures displayed a pattern of disregard to the BMV’s operating procedures. To view the report, click here.

The United States Attorney announced that a Federal jury has convicted a former Virgin Islands senator of two counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of federal program funds from the Virgin Islands Legislature. To see the United States Attorney’s Press Release, click here.

The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General investigated an allegation that a generator located at the Ivannna Eudora Kean High School was moved to the home of the Commissioner of Education. The investigation has confirmed that in fact the generator was moved to the Commissioner’s home shortly after the passage of Hurricane Irma. It has since been relocated to a storage area at the Adelita Canryn Junior High School. The Commissioner stated it was moved for security reasons and that her home was used at times as a base of operations and thus felt that her utilization of the generator was justified. We have concluded that: (i) the generator should not have been moved to the Commissioner’s home, and more importantly it should not have been connected; (ii) the administration of Ivanna Eurdora Kean High School should have been notified of the move; and, (iii) it probably could have been used in some other capacity for the Department of Education or the Government. To view the report, click here.

The final defendant in the property tax auction scheme settled to a civil claim of $500,000 to the VI Government. To see the Press Release from the Attorney General, click here.

Three of the four defendants in the property tax auction scheme were sentenced. To see the Press Release from the Attorney General, click here.

A third defendant charged in the property tax auction scheme has pled guilty. Two other defendants had previously pled guilty to their involvement in the scheme. To see the Press Release from the Attorney General, click here.

The United States Attorney announced that a Grand Jury indicted a former Virgin Islands senator with wire fraud and embezzlement of funds from the Virgin Islands Legislature. The former senator was arrested in Italy on June 29, 2016 and extradited to the Virgin Islands in late August 2016. To see the United States Attorney’s Press Release and Indictment, click here.

The Virgin Islands Attorney General filed a twenty-five count Information charging two Government employees and two businessmen with various violations of Virgin Islands laws based on their participation in a real property tax auction scheme to acquire property below the highest bid price. The Information was based on an Affidavit filed by the Virgin Islands Inspector General’s Office. To see the Information and Affidavit, click here.

The United States Attorney announced that a Grand Jury indicted the former Director of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority and two business owners with various offenses based on their participation in a bribery scheme involving over $17 million in construction contracts awarded by the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority. To see the United States Attorney’s Press Release and Indictment, click here.

The spouse of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Roy Schneider Hospital was sentenced to three years in prison by a Superior Court Judge after pleading guilty to one count of Accessory After the Fact. To see the Virgin Islands Attorney General’s Press Release, click here.