Nine Arrested In St. Croix On Various Fraud Charges; One Suspect Still On The Loose

ST. CROIX — The V.I.P.D. on Tuesday and Wednesday executed nine arrest warrants for individuals in cases involving fraud, two of whom were employed with the Government of the Virgin Islands at the Bureau of Motor Vehicle, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte announced today.

The arrests warrants, (a tenth person is currently outstanding), were executed through a joint partnership between the V.I.P.D.’s Economic Crime Unit and the Department of Justice, whose work in getting the warrants allowed the police force to make the arrests.

In a joint V.I.P.D./D.O.J. press conference today (full story coming up later today), Attorney General Claude Walker decried the continuation of public fraud, and said D.O.J., along with the police force would not relent in their efforts to bring white collar criminals to justice. He lamented for those who had lost money through such criminal acts, pointing out that some of the victims were elderly people who had saved up their money after years of work. And he placed the community on alert, stating that more arrests would be forthcoming.

The following arrests were executed on Tuesday:

Mitchel Rochard, 36, was arrested and charged with buying, receiving or possessing stolen property after he had in his possession property that was stolen from ABC Janitors. Unable to make bail of $10,000, Mr. Rochard was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Facility pending his advise-of-rights hearing.

Natasha P. Hodge, 36, was arrested for obtaining money by false pretense; forgery and identity theft. Ms. Hodge was employed by a family member to take care of their father. After reviewing the bank statements, it was observed that Ms. Hodge had made several unauthorized transactions — including four checks totaling $10,500 — which she deposited into her account. Unable to make bail of $35,000, Ms. Hodge was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending her advise-of-rights hearing.

Janie Roldan, 26, was arrested and charged with fraudulent use of a credit card, obtaining money by false pretense; and forging a false obligation when she allegedly used a credit card without authorization and then forged the signature. Unable to make bail of $10,000, Ms. Roldan was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Facility pending her advise-of-rights hearing.

Janice Isenberg, 67, who is a former employee of Marquee Mortgage, was arrested and charged with 15 counts of forgery, obtaining money by false pretense, grand larceny, passing forged bills or notes and embezzlement by clerks, agents or employee, after she allegedly forged client signatures on money orders that were for mortgage clients’ accounts, and used their monies for her personal use. Her bail was set at $35,000, which Ms. Isenberg was unable to satisfy. She was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending her advise-of-rights hearing.

The following arrests were executed on Wednesday:

Christopher Riley, 24, was arrested and charged with 3 counts of obtaining money under false pretense, aggravated identity theft, obtaining credit card through fraudulent means, and receipt of money goods and services obtained by fraudulent use of credit card. Mr. Riley made several transactions at Kmart, Urban Threads and an ATM withdrawal that the victim did not authorize. Unable to make bail of $35,000, Mr. Riley was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending his advise-of-rights hearing.

Sham Malaykhan, 30, a former employee at Olympic Rent-A-Car, was arrested after he allegedly stole and cashed one of Olympic Rent-A-Car’s checks. Mr. Malaykhan was arrested and charged with grand larceny and obtaining money by false pretense. Unable to post bail at $35,000, dollars, Mr. Malaykhan was remanded to the Golden grove Detention Facility pending his advise-of-rights hearing.

Also arrested were two BMV employees, 47-year-old Juanita Cruz-Ayala and 51-year-old Joseph Murray, as well as one non-BMV employee Mario Ayala, 54, who owns a driving school business.

They were all charged with fraudulent claims upon the government, uttering false handwriting, falsifying driver’s license cards, solicitation or receipts of bribes by public employees. Bail per suspect was set at $35,000. They were remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Facility.

WANTED

Still outstanding on an arrest warrant is Rosa Diaz, 55. She is wanted for forgery. Ms. Diaz is a Hispanic female who weighs about 150 lbs, 5’4” tall, has black hear, brown eyes with a light complexion.

Ms. Diaz frequents the Castle Coakley area. Police are asking anyone who may know of her whereabouts to call The Economic Crime Bureau at 340 773 2266 on St. Croix, and on St. Thomas at 340 774 4629. Residents can also call Crime stoppers, where successful leads lead to monetary rewards.

Correction: November 4, 2016

A previous version of this story stated that eight arrests were made, when there were actually nine. The story has been updated to reflect the correct information.