Florida Man Arrested For Allegedly Forging, Cashing VI Port Authority Checks Totaling More Than $90,000

ST. THOMAS -- A sub-contract worker from Florida employed to help with construction work at the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) was advised of his rights on grand larceny and related charges, the Department of Justice has announced. Alain Rodriguez Rionda, 39, appeared before Magistrate Carolyn Hermon-Purcell Thursday morning for his initial court hearing after police executed an arrest warrant Wednesday and charged him with one count each of grand larceny, possession of stolen property, forgery and obtaining money by false pretense in relation to the alleged theft of several of the Port Authority’s checks, D.O.J. said. Magistrate Hermon-Purcell found that there was probable cause to sustain all of the charges and to move the case forward.  She set bail at $250,000 and ordered Rionda to abide by a number of court-imposed bail conditions, which include being placed under 24-hour house arrest and surrendering his travel documents. According to an affidavit in support of the arrest w...