Former USVI Governor John deJongh
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands, Aug. 20, CMC – John deJongh, the former governor of the US Virgin islands has been arrested on two felony counts of alleged financial improprieties in relation to widely publicized security improvements on his house in 2007.
On Tuesday, Claude Walker, the nominee for the post of Attorney General, announced that deJongh was arrested by USVI authorities on charges of embezzling public funds and failing to use public funds for their intended purpose, in violation of Title 14, Section 1662 and 1663 of the Virgin Islands Code.
A former Director of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority, Julito Frances was also arrested.
“We allege that on or about April 2007 through January 2009 both men, being public officers, acted in concert in the process of conversion of public monies for private use and executed several government contracts to convert $490,000.25 of Virgin Islands government highway funds to fund improvements to the private residence of former governor John deJongh Jr., without authority of law,” Walker said.
Both charges are punishable by fines of up to US$10,000 and up to ten years in prison, or both.
If convicted, neither man would be eligible to run for public office in the US Virgin Islands.
