Former St. John Resident Arrested For Mail Fraud

ST. THOMAS — Shaquin Brodie, 20, a former resident of St. John, appeared for arraignment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being arrested in Columbus, Ohio, on January 16, 2018, United States Attorney Gretchen Shappert announced.

Brodie was arrested pursuant to an indictment and arrest warrant issued on January 11, 2018, by the District Court of the Virgin Islands charging him with mail fraud.

According to the indictment, between February 2016 and March 2017, Brodie filed in excess of 200 fraudulent insurance claims with the United States Postal Service for items he represented to be lost, damaged or stolen. The claims were valued in excess of $47,000.

If convicted, Brodie faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.

United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.