A St. Croix woman has been charged with theft and fraud after embezzling over $48,000, the V.I. Police Department reported Thursday.
On Nov. 11, 2022, the Economic Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into multiple obtaining money by false pretense complaints filed by a business. The investigation revealed that Jahreema Barnes embezzled $48,891.48 from the complainant’s business account by depositing several different vendor checks into her personal account at USAA without authorization, according to the police report.
As a result, an arrest warrant was issued for Jahreema Barnes on Oct. 24, the police report stated.
On Nov. 15 at approximately 11:20 a.m., Barnes, 39, turned herself into authorities, where she was arrested and advised of her Miranda Rights, which she waived and signed. Barnes was subsequently booked and charged with obtaining money by false pretense, grand larceny, embezzlement by employee, identity theft, and access to computer for fraudulent purposes, the report stated.
Barnes was unable to post bail in the amount of $35,000 and was remanded to John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending her advice of rights hearing scheduled for Friday at the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, police said.
