A Virgin Islander Has Been Arrested for Allegedly Uploading Fake Covid-19 Test Result Into USVI Travel Portal

  • Ernice Gilbert
  • April 08, 2021
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Mugshot of Tammy T. Stevens By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT

ST. CROIX — A Virgin Islander has been arrested for allegedly uploading a fake Covid-19 test result into the USVI Travel Portal, according to information provided to the Consortium by V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima, along with a probable cause fact sheet in the V.I. Superior Court on St. Croix.

The accused, Tammy Stevens, arrived on St. Croix Sunday with what she admitted was a modified Covid-19 test result from "Real Diagnostics", according to Wanson Harris, V.I. D.O.H. director of environmental health, who filed the affidavit. Mr. Harris said the documents submitted by Ms. Stevens was suspicious because "the name and dates appears to be sharper than the rest of the form" and therefore local health officials did not give the clearance for travel. Health officials also contacted the Florida Department of Health, which confirmed that the result Ms. Stevens uploaded into the USVI Travel Portal was not in the state's health database, according to Mr. Harris.

Even so, Ms. Stevens flew in on Sunday and received a call from Mr. Harris on Tuesday to be interviewed, which she agreed to, he said. Ms. Stevens proceeded to tell Mr. Harris that a few months ago she had tested positive for Covid-19 and believed it was okay to travel, presumably because of natural antibodies that are produced following one's diagnosis of the disease. She had attempted to secure a Covid-19 test at Walgreens, she said, according to Mr. Harris, but was unable to get a timely date ahead of her planned travel back home on Sunday. This prompted Ms. Stevens to modify the  results of the "Real Diagnosis" test received through an app downloaded on her phone. Once downloaded, she altered the document by placing her name and date of birth, she said during the interview, according to Mr. Harris.

Mr. Harris said Ms. Stevens admitted to submitting the falsified documents upon her arrival at the Henry E. Rohlen airport on Sunday, and that she "acknowledged the terms and conditions on the USVI Travel Portal prior to submitting the results."

She made bail of $5,500 and was released pending her advisement hearing. 

Ms. Stevens was the second person to be arrested for allegedly submitting fraudulent Covid-19 test documents. Clifford H. Mattson was arrested on Saturday at about 1:30 p.m. at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix and was charged with making fraudulent claims upon the government and sending or delivering false messages.

 

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