Aug. 25. 4:32 p.m.
Leah Benjamin, who was wanted for fraud on St. Croix, was arrested along with her mother, who was also involved in the scheme, the V.I. Police Department reported Friday.
On April 13, the Economic Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into an obtaining money by false pretense complaint. Their investigation revealed that Sylvia Benjamin knowingly gained access to the complainant’s Banco Popular Visa debit card information and shared it with her daughter, Leah Benjamin, without his knowledge or permission, according to the police report.
The mother and daughter team conducted several fraudulent and unauthorized online transactions totaling $2,420.29. Leah Benjamin was observed on surveillance retrieving some of the merchandise. Evidence showed that packages were delivered to Leah’s address, and utility bills were also paid on both suspects’ addresses, the police report stated.
After Sylvia Benjamin was notified that an arrest warrant was obtained for her arrest in reference to the incident, Benjamin, 43, surrendered herself Thursday at the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station, where she was served the arrest warrant, advised of her Miranda Rights, and placed under arrest without incident and charged with obtaining money by false pretenses, grand larceny, and access to computers for fraudulent purposes, the report stated.
Bail was set at $20,000 dollars for the alleged incident. Unable to post bail, Sylvia Benjamin was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correction Facility pending her advice of rights hearing, police said.
On Friday, the Virgin Islands Police Department received a tip from a concerned citizen stating that Leah Benjamin was seen at the Henry E. Rohlsen airport. Detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit traveled to the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, where Leah Benjamin, 23, was served the arrest warrant, advised of her Miranda Rights, and placed under arrest without incident. She was also charged with obtaining money by false pretenses, grand larceny, and access to computers for fraudulent purposes, according to the report.
Leah Benjamin’s bail was $20,000. However, her bail was reduced, permitting her to post $500. She was released under the supervision of a third-party custodian pending her advice of rights hearing scheduled for Monday at the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
Aug. 24, 4:10 p.m.
A woman is wanted on St. Croix for grand larceny and fraud, the V.I. Police Department reported Thursday.
Leah Benjamin is a 23-year-old Black woman with a light complexion. She is 5’1 and weighs 180 lbs. She has black hair and brown eyes. She is known to frequent Williams Delight and Barren Spot on St. Croix, according to the police report.
Benjamin is wanted for obtaining money by false pretense, grand larceny and access to a computer for fraudulent purposes, police said.
If located call 911, contact the Economic Crimes Unit at 340-718-2211
ext. 6149 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPs.
