Mugshot of Jahreema Barnes. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — Jahreema Barnes, a 39-year-old resident of St. Croix, has been arrested and charged with a series of economic crimes following an investigation by the VIPD's Economic Crimes Unit. The investigation, which began on November 11, 2022, uncovered fraudulent activities involving unauthorized deposits of checks, according to the police department.
The case emerged from complaints filed by a local business, accusing Barnes of embezzling a substantial amount of money. According to the reports, Barnes illegally deposited checks totaling $48,891.48 from various vendors into her personal account with USAA, without any authorization from the business.
Following the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Barnes on October 24, 2023. Barnes surrendered herself at the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station on November 15 around 11:20 a.m. Upon her arrival, she was arrested, informed of her Miranda Rights, which she subsequently waived and signed.
The charges brought against Barnes are extensive, including obtaining money by false pretense, grand larceny, embezzlement by employee, identity theft, and access to computer for fraudulent purposes.
Barnes was unable to post the set bail amount of $35,000, and has been remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility. She awaits her Advice of Rights Hearing, which is scheduled for Friday, November 17, 2023, at the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
This case highlights the diligent efforts of the Economic Crimes Unit in addressing financial fraud and the commitment to upholding legal and ethical standards in the business community of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
