{"id":74445,"date":"2019-05-18T09:25:25","date_gmt":"2019-05-18T09:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=74445"},"modified":"2019-05-18T11:03:28","modified_gmt":"2019-05-18T11:03:28","slug":"doj-says-golden-locked-herself-in-office-in-apparent-attempt-to-evade-being-served","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=74445","title":{"rendered":"DOJ Says Golden Locked Herself In Office In Apparent Attempt To Evade Being Served"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Virgin Islands Department of Justice issued a statement Friday afternoon confirming a Consortium story published earlier that day about Casino Control Commission Chairperson Ann Golden, who was holed up in her office refusing to be served court summons documents to show cause why she shouldn’t be removed from her position at the C.C.C. Ms. Golden’s term as a C.C.C. commissioner ended in April, but Governor Albert Bryan has yet to name a nominee to replace her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the statement, Attorney General Designee Denise George-Counts said Ms. Golden was served at 11:30 a.m. with a summons and complaint filed by the Attorney General\u2019s office on Sept. 7, 2018. The A.G. added that the complaint “seeks the removal of Ms. Golden from office as the chairperson and member of the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission for misconduct, neglect of duty and unfitness for office, pursuant to Title 32 of the Virgin Islands Code, Section 406(g).”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. George-Counts stated that Ms. Golden was served by V.I. Department of Justice Director of Investigations, Leonardo Carrion and Special Agent Dale Jeffers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

C.C.C. Commissioner Usie Richards told The Consortium Saturday morning that he had spoken with Ms. Golden by phone at 11:30 a.m. Friday, asking her to allow the D.O.J. investigators to come into her office — “in which she had locked herself for several hours in an apparent attempt to evade service of process,” according to A.G. George-Counts. Mr. Richards said he told Ms. Golden that the situation “had become a public spectacle.” He said Ms. Golden then unlocked the door and told Mr. Richards that he could open it so the D.O.J. officials could enter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Now that she has been served, the V.I. Department of Justice will proceed to notify the court that she has been served through filing a return of service and summons with the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands,” the D.O.J. statement concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n

Ms. Golden is the subject of a D.O.J. investigation<\/span><\/a> launched by former Attorney General Claude Walker, following an Inspector General audit<\/span><\/a> that found out-of-control and questionable spending at the commission by Ms. Golden, whom the audit portrayed as running the operations of the commission as if she were the sole authority, making major financial transactions with no secondary signatory.<\/p>\n

The audit lists a myriad of questionable findings. And it found that the Casino Commission was not effectively utilizing its resources to carry out its administrative functions in accordance with established laws, rules and regulations, policies and procedures and best practices.<\/p>\n

According to the report, released publicly on September 6, 2018, during Fiscal Years 2013 through 2016, the Casino Commission expended $680,172 in travel and travel-related expenses without having established formal travel policies and procedures; it ignored the government-wide travel policy while it did not implement a formal travel policy of its own; the commission did not provide supporting documentation for $488,674 of these expenses; and it did not implement internal procedures to ensure that travel expenses were properly controlled and accounted for.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cIn addition, we found that $556,851 or 82% of the travel and travel-related expenses were incurred using Casino Commission credit cards,\u201d reads the audit. \u201cThese charges consisted of: (i) $190,508 in airline tickets, including non-employee and business\/first class travel; (ii) hotel charges of $272,249; (iii) transportation charges of $28,120; and, (iv) meals and entertainment charges of $65,974. Most of these charges lacked supporting documentation and are questionable in relation to the operations of the Casino Commission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel Advance\/Claim For Reimbursement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the report, a review of the checks issued for travel advances shows that only Ms. Golden was given travel advance payments. However, even though she was advanced travel payments totaling $19,150 from the Casino Commission\u2019s checking account, there was no supporting documentation to show how Ms. Golden used the advanced funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough we were not provided with support for these advance payments, we were able to match the advance payment with travel expenses incurred on the chairperson\u2019s credit card during the same travel period,\u201d reads the O.I.G. report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately after the release of the audit, Mr. Walker filed suit in the Superior Court seeking to remove Ms. Golden. In his complaint, Mr. Walker cited Virgin Islands Code Title 32, Section 406 (g), which reads: \u201cA commissioner may be removed from office for misconduct in office, willful neglect of duty, or other conduct evidencing unfitness for this office, or for incompetence. A proceeding for removal may be instituted by the Attorney General in the Superior Court\u2026. Each commissioner or employee of the commission shall be subject to the duty to appear and testify and to removal from his office, position or employment in accordance with the provisions of Title 3, chapter 25 of this Code.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strengthened by the above section of local law, Mr. Walker charged in his suit that, \u201cBased on recent audit findings, Chairperson Violet Ann Golden must be removed from her position as the chairperson and member of the commission as her actions and\/or inaction has shown that she is unfit for office or incompetent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement provided to The Consortium on September 7, 2018, the attorney general said action had to be taken to remove Ms. Golden as the optics of the situation was damaging to the territory, and that individuals found wanting must be held accountable for their actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnder my statutory authority, I am seeking to remove Commissioner Golden from the casino commission. The integrity of the commission must be protected as the commission has oversight responsibility of our casinos, and this is the first step,\u201d Mr. Walker said. \u201cWe do not want any harm to come to St. Croix\u2019s growing casino industry and the public has no tolerance for the type of behavior detailed in the IG\u2019s report. We must be mindful of the harmful trickle-down effect on the Virgin Islands and its casino industry. Therefore, I intend to stand up for what is right as so many small businesses, and hundreds of casino employees on St. Croix depend on the casinos to make a living.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

The suit, seen here<\/span><\/a>, states that \u201cDefendant Golden was in a position of trust and loyalty and had a fiduciary responsibility to administer the various commission accounts and credit cards in a prudent manner by ensuring appropriate use of hinds, putting in place financial controls and policies, implementing checks and balances, and maintaining adequate supporting documentation to verify expenses. \u201cAs a result of the Chairperson\u2019s actions, the public trust and confidence has been undermined to such an extent that removal, as a member of the Commission and its Chairperson, is warranted,” it says.<\/p>\n

During the time Mr. Walker was leading the investigation, Ms. Golden was away for medical attention. She has since returned to the territory, however.<\/p>\n\n\n

The audit report\u2019s executive summary says the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internal Controls:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n