Crime

Former St. Croix Resident Indicted On Federal Program Fraud, Money Laundering, and Tax Related Charges

ST. CROIX -- A Virgin Islands grand jury, on January 12, 2017, returned a six-count indictment against Celeste P. Bermudez, 41, of Methuen, Massachusetts, charging her with theft of federal program funds, money laundering, and making and subscribing a false income tax return, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Bermudez made her initial appearance on January 15, 2017, and was arraigned on the charges, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller. Judge Miller set bail conditions for Bermudez, who is on release pending trial. According to the indictment, Bermudez was the finance director of the Virgin Islands Community AIDS Resource & Education, Inc. (VICARE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting HIV-AIDS education and support services to individuals living with HIV-AIDS. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved approximately $1.3 million in grant funds to VICARE. During the period July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2014, the Departm...