59-Year-Old Ex-Kmart Manager Behind Bars After $15,358 Fraud Scheme

ST. CROIX — Detectives from the V.I. Police Department's Economic Crimes Unit have arrested Joanne Nickeo, a former manager at the Kmart store in Sunny Isles Shopping Center, St. Croix, following an investigation into fraudulent activities involving the company's credit card. The investigation, initiated on September 25, 2023, uncovered that Nickeo, who was entrusted with a company credit card (P-Card) for official purchases, had used the card to make unauthorized transactions for personal gain on multiple occasions. According to the investigation, Nickeo admitted to creating fake invoices online for her businesses, J&J Supplies, Sparkling Tots, and Sparkling World, which were not legitimate. She then fraudulently claimed reimbursement for these transactions, leading to a financial loss of $15,358.83 for Kmart. These actions constituted a breach of trust in her role as a manager responsible for handling company funds. On September 12, 2024, at approximately 10:28 a.m., detectives e...