D.O.J. Arrests Former USVI BMV Director And Two Others In Real ID Alleged Scheme
ST. CROIX — A former director of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and two others have been arrested on multiple charges stemming from an alleged scheme to defraud the government through a federal driver’s license program, Attorney General Claude Earl Walker announced at a press conference held at the Department of Justice’s Castle Coakley offices at noon today. The news was first reported on The Consortium.
Mr. Walker said former BMV director, Jerris Browne; former Management Information System administrator, Gregory Christian; and owner of BIZVI, Syed Gilani, were taken into custody on June 15 pursuant to arrest warrants signed by V.I. Superior Court Magistrate Henry Carr III.
The men face one count each of obtaining money by false pretense, conversion of government property, embezzlement by public officer, filing false instruments, falsification of public accounts, fraudulent claims upon the government, false certificate by public officers and criminally influenced and corrupt organizations (CICO) conspiracy. Mr. Walker said each count carries a 10-year prison sentence.
Mr. Walker said federal agents apprehended Mr. Gilani in the state of Massachusetts, where he is imprisoned awaiting extradition. Mr. Browne and Mr. Christian were arrested on St. Croix on Monday morning, and both men appeared before V.I. Superior Court Judge Douglas Brady for their advise-of-rights hearing. Judge Brady found there was sufficient evidence to move forward on the charges and released both men on their own recognizance.
Read more: http://viconsortium.com/featured/d-o-j-arrests-former-bmv-director-and-two-others-in-real-id-alleged-scheme/