Lydia Robles Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A 72-year old woman is facing felony fraud charges after police say she forged her dead mother’s signature on property sale documents.
According to the V.I. Department, the VIPD Economic Crimes Unit began investigating a complaint in December 2021, alleging that Lydia Robles impersonated her deceased mother by signing a contract of sale for a property in Williams Delight.
Ms. Robles reportedly received $42,000 for the fraudulent sale of the property, which she does not own, the VIPD said. Compounding the issue, the unwitting buyer then made approximately $70,000 worth of renovations to the property before they discovered that they did not legally own the property, either.
The investigation into Ms. Robles’s alleged fraud resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant in April 2022, however it was not until June 15 2024 – this past Saturday – that she was discovered at the Henry E. Rohlsen airport by Customs and Border Protection officials. She was arrested and charged with obtaining money by false pretenses, forgery, grand larceny, and uttering or passing forged or counterfeit matters.
Ms. Robles appeared in court on Monday, where Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross found probable cause to uphold all charges against her. Bail was set at $20,000, however Mr. Robles was allowed to pay 10 percent of that sum in cash, with the remainder signed as an unsecured bond. She will be allowed to leave the St. Croix district, but only upon the signing of a waiver of extradition. Ms. Robles will be allowed to report to the probation office by telephone.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for August 23.
