Crime

Stephanie Barnes Facing 8 Years in Jail After Being Found Guilty on All Counts

Fifteen days after a jury heard opening arguments in the United States government v. Stephanie Barnes case, Ms. Barnes was found guilty on all three counts by a jury Thursday, a result that sees Ms. Barnes facing a maximum prison sentence of eight years incarceration in federal prison.  The verdict came in under 6 hours of deliberation, suggesting that the jury was convinced Ms. Barnes committed the crimes. The federal government charged her with conspiracy to commit theft from programs and receiving federal funds in violation of U.S. law, receipt of stolen government monies, and filing a false tax return in violation of Virgin Islands law. The trial was presided over by Judge Robert Molloy. During opening statements on Dec. 8, lead prosecutor Jill Koster said Ms. Barnes "knew what was in [Ms. Golden's] wallet," referring to the hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money that was said to be expended during the time of the crimes. Ms. Koster stated that while the federal gover...