V.I. Justice Department agents arrested a St. Thomas grocery owner at Cyril E. King Airport Monday morning for allegedly writing $10,000 in bad checks since 2007.
In a statement issued Monday afternoon, DOJ said agents of its Special Investigation Division nabbed Saleh Aquel, 36, at the airport based on a warrant issued by Superior Judge James Carroll III in June.
The statement says Aquel, who they identified as a Kuwaiti and the owner of Sammy Grocery in Estate Lindbergh, "is suspected of knowingly, willingly and intentionally issuing two worthless checks totaling $10,000.”
During their investigation, agents said they learned that in October 2007 Aquel wrote a $5,000 check to a complainant who presented it for payment at Banco Popular, where it was returned for insufficient funds. According to the DOJ, signature cards and monthly account statements revealed that Aquel knew that the check was being returned.
Aquel issued the same person another check for $5,000 a month later. That check was also returned for insufficient funds, according to the DOJ.
“Despite numerous attempts, the complainant has been unsuccessful in having Aquel satisfy the worthless checks,” the DOJ statement said.
Information regarding Aquel’s upcoming advice of rights hearing was unavailable Monday evening.
