St. Thomas resident Stevie Michael Brown, 53, was taken into custody on May 8, 2024, facing charges related to a grand larceny case stemming from allegations of embezzlement at a local Home Depot. The case opened on January 26, 2024, after Home Depot reported suspicious activities.

Investigators from the Economic Crime Unit (ECU) uncovered that a former employee had facilitated the theft by allowing certain individuals to exit the store with merchandise they hadn’t paid for. Brown emerged as a key figure in the investigation, accused of acquiring goods worth over $1,000.

Following his interview with authorities on January 29, where he confessed to paying a mere $40 for the stolen items, Brown turned himself in to the detectives at the Richard N. Callwood Command on May 8. He now faces several charges including grand larceny (aiding and abetting), possession of stolen property, and obtaining property by false pretenses.

Set at $20,000, Brown’s bail led to his processing and subsequent detention at the Bureau of Corrections. He is expected to appear for an Advice of Rights hearing at the Superior Court on May 9, 2024.

This arrest follows closely on the heels of a similar apprehension earlier in the week when Larry Webbe was arrested under analogous circumstances. According to police reports, Webbe acknowledged obtaining over one thousand dollars’ worth of merchandise for just $28.93, thanks to a scheme orchestrated by the same former Home Depot employee implicated in Brown’s case.

ST. THOMAS — Larry Webbe, a resident of St. Thomas, faces charges related to grand larceny and the possession of stolen goods, stemming from his involvement in a theft at Home Depot. This arrest followed an investigation by the Economic Crime Unit, which unearthed a scheme where Webbe, in collusion with a cashier, obtained goods valued at over one thousand dollars for merely $28.93.

During an interview on February 22, 2024, with the Economic Crime Unit, Webbe acknowledged his acquaintance with the Home Depot cashier and admitted to the significantly reduced payment for the stolen merchandise. He chose not to return the items, expressing a desire not to implicate the cashier.

Webbe was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on May 7, 2024, at Cyril E. King International Airport. Following his detention, he was turned over to detectives from the Economic Crime Unit and arrested. He faces charges of grand larceny (aiding and abetting) and buying, receiving, or possessing stolen property.

Set at $20,000, Webbe’s bail preceded his transfer to the Richard N. Callwood Command for processing. He is currently held at the Bureau of Corrections, awaiting an Advice of Rights hearing scheduled for May 8, 2024, at the Superior Court.

St. Croix resident Edward Saldana, 37, has admitted his involvement in a drug smuggling operation, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith. His guilty plea to a charge of drug conspiracy was recorded during a court session with U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile Henderson III on April 23, 2024.

The investigation unfolded after a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport alerted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on January 23, 2023. Edward Saldana and Bianca Torres were stopped by airport security as they tried to board a flight to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, leading to their subsequent detention.

Upon examining Torres’ luggage, security personnel discovered four kilograms of cocaine, hidden within her carry-on bag. An inspection of Saldana’s baggage revealed an identical quantity of the drug. Investigations later confirmed that Saldana had supplied the narcotics to Torres that day, offering her $3,000 to transport them to Florida.

Bianca Torres entered her guilty plea on February 12, 2024, and is scheduled for sentencing on June 12 of the same year. Meanwhile, sentencing for Saldana is set for August 22, 2024. The sentences will be finalized by a federal district court judge, who will take into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other factors.

This case falls under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, which seeks to thwart and dismantle major criminal networks that pose a threat to national security. The OCDETF employs a strategic, prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to law enforcement. Further details on this program can be found on the official website at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry, following thorough investigations by both Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection.