US Virgin Islands Casino Commission Worker Sentenced for Embezzlement
A US Virgin Islands Casino Commission worker whose chore was to apprise on responsible for(p) gaming was sentenced Tuesday to 44 months inwards prison for embezzling commissioning funds.
Stephanie Barnes, 64, was hired inward 2015 as a contractor past commission chairperson Violet Anne Golden as the regulator’s foremost “certified gaming specialist,” despite having no more have inwards the field.
Subsequently, Barnes and Golden went to townsfolk with commissioning funds, splurging on expensive amusement and clothing, according to prosecutors.
Profligate Spending
This included chartering a skim to the St. Kitts Music Festival for which they purchased VIP passes. The geminate travelled to casino-related conferences while enjoying “luxurious hotel stays” and expensive meals, and yet squeezed in a get off to Disney World in Florida. They also caught Hamilton on Broadway, according to courtroom documents.
The US Virgin Islands cassino securities industry is small, with just II licensed casinos: Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino and Casino at Hotel Caravelle, both on St. Croix.
Barnes’ and Goldens’ infractions were uncovered inward 2018 next an investigating by the Virgin Island’s Inspector General, and the findings were referred to the FBI. They were indicted July 11, 2019, and arrested a hebdomad later.
Barnes denied charges of confederacy to institutionalise theft from programs receiving federal funds, receipt of government property, and filing off-key tax returns. She claimed she was innocently caught up inwards a culture of profligate outlay instigated by her boss, Golden.
Golden pleaded guilty inwards Jan 2020 to misappropriating $295,503 of governing funds. Thanks to her plea deal, she was sentenced to a 24-month prison house full term and was released in September 2021. When Barnes went to tryout inwards Dec that year, Golden was the prosecution’s lead witness.
$600K Salary Top-Up
On December 23, 2001, after II years of deliberations, a District Court jury unanimously found Barnes hangdog of all 3 charges.
The task nonpayment bursting charge related to Barnes reported income to the IRS of $35,894 inward 2016, despite knowing she had received much to a greater extent inwards cash in and perks from the gambling casino commission’s coffers. Investigators set that she received salary and benefits totaling $600,000 in some three years, thanks to her arranging with Golden.
District Court Chief Judge Henry M. Robert Molloy ordered the defendant to pay off restitution of $247,490 and to attend triplet years of supervised waiver one time her sentence ends.
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