Mugshot of Rosemary-Sauter Frett. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — V.I. Attorney General Ariel M. Smith announced on Wednesday the conviction and sentencing of Rosemary-Sauter Frett, a real estate agent charged with embezzling millions of dollars from clients between 2008 and 2010.
The judgment was passed on October 25 in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands in the St. Thomas district.
According to the V.I. DOJ, in 2010, following the embezzlement allegations, Sauter-Frett fled the territory. A warrant for her arrest was subsequently issued. She was extradited from California in 2014 after evading capture for several years. Initially pleading not guilty, Sauter-Frett changed her plea to no contest on August 1, 2023. As part of her plea, she agreed to pay restitution amounting to $564,355.65 to 21 victims.
The sentence includes specific conditions aimed at ensuring compliance and restitution. Sauter-Frett, who has already spent around 8 months in incarceration and several years under electronic monitoring via an ankle bracelet, will continue to be electronically monitored at her expense until the restitution is fully paid. Additionally, she is required to sell two of her properties on St. Thomas to satisfy the restitution. Her work activities are also restricted; she is not allowed to occupy any position that involves trust, authority, or fiduciary responsibility. Furthermore, she must complete 75 hours of community service annually while on probation.
Attorney General Smith commented on the case, stating, “Justice has finally been served. I commend our Department of Justice prosecution team and truly hope this sentencing provides some degree of closure to the victims of her actions.
"The White-Collar Crime Division makes every effort to prosecute these defendants in a manner that is most beneficial to the victims, particularly when they are owed large sums of money. In this case, while incarceration would have been appropriate, the victims will be made whole once restitution is paid. If restitution is not made, probation may be revoked, and a five-year prison sentence may be imposed.”
