Former National Guard Major Sherrymae Morales has been served with a 38-count indictment for theft of public money, wire fraud and making false statements, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe has announced.
The indictment was returned on Dec. 4, however it was unsealed on Jan. 7 when Morales appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and entered a plea of not guilty. Morales was released on an unsecured bond of $25,000.
From 2010 until 2011, Morales was employed as a full-time Virgin Islands National Guard (VING) employee, and also held a full-time contract position with Military Personnel Services Corporation (MPSC), which provides employee support services to members of the VING, according to a press release. The indictment alleges that Morales submitted time sheets to both the MPSC and VING for the same 40-hour weeks over a period of 14 months.
If convicted, Morales faces up to 20 years in prison.
The charges are not convictions, however, and Attorney Sharpe noted that the indictment is merely a formal charging document and should not be viewed as evidence of guilt.
The case is currently being investigated by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command – Major Procurement Fraud Unit, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Tags: national guard