ST. CROIX – Two high-ranking Virgin Islands National Guard officers have been arrested after a federal grand jury returned indictments charging them with wire fraud, theft of government money, and making false statements to the government, according to U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharpe.
Lt. Col. Kenneth Alleyne, 45, who is chief of the VING’s strategic initiatives and plans division, was arrested Thursday and is charged in a 46-count indictment with 44 counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government money and one count of making a false statement to the government, Sharpe said. If convicted of all the charges, Alleyne faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines.
Staff Sgt. Emmrie Edwards, 37, was also arrested Thursday and is charged in a 49-count indictment with 47 counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government money and one count of making a false statement to the government, according to the U.S. attorney. Edwards also faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines.
Alleyne and Edwards each had advice of rights hearings before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon today and yesterday respectively in U.S. District Court in Estate Golden Rock.
Cannon ruled today that Alleyne could be released on an unsecured $50,000 bond. Alleyne’s arraignment is scheduled for May 6. Cannon ruled yesterday that Edwards also could be released on an unsecured $50,000 bond. Edwards’ arraignment is scheduled for May 4.
The indictments are the result of months of investigative work by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command Major Procurement Fraud Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Sharpe said. The charges for each officer relate to the improper use of government-issued housing allowance funds.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Stringer.
Image Credit: VI National Guard Facebook page
Tags: national guard, Virgin Islands National Guard
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