Community Service and Probation for St. Croix Woman in Check Fraud Case

Following an admission of guilt in a case of financial deception, a St. Croix court has mandated that Noemi Martinez undertake 50 hours of community service annually over a two-year probation period. This ruling comes after Martinez’s involvement in a scheme utilizing counterfeit checks purported to be from the Virgin Islands Housing Authority at a local supermarket came to light.

The discovery of the fraudulent activity was made when the financial institution flagged the checks as counterfeit, prompting immediate notification of the authorities by the supermarket. Investigations by both the Virgin Islands Housing Authority and the Department of Finance corroborated the checks’ illegitimacy.

During the police interrogation, Martinez conceded to cashing the fraudulent checks, although she denied their creation, stating the checks were found in her mailbox. Her arrest followed these revelations, leading to a judicial proceeding where Martinez entered a plea agreement in November 2023. This agreement resulted in the dismissal of additional charges she faced, including forgery, grand larceny, and identity theft.

The sentence was handed down by Superior Court Judge Douglas A. Brady on March 27, outlining the conditions of Martinez’s probation. Aside from the community service requirement, Martinez is obliged to achieve a GED or equivalent qualification and compensate The Market with $939.32 in restitution. This case underscores the legal system’s approach to addressing fraudulent financial activities, emphasizing rehabilitation and restitution.