Police officers arrested a St. Croix woman Thursday for allegedly stealing more than $200,000 from a deceased man’s bank accounts, the V.I. Police Department reported.
On June 27, 2024, the Economic Crimes Unit launched an investigation into a grand larceny complaint filed by the estate executor of a deceased male, uncovering allegations that Shantenysha Victor unlawfully accessed the decedent’s First Bank accounts and misappropriated $226,704.68, according to the police report.
According to the investigation, Victor used the stolen funds to make payments toward her Discover credit card, AT&T Mobility account, and Banco Popular JetBlue Mastercard and to transfer money into her personal Banco Popular checking account via online banking.
Following the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Victor, who was taken into custody without incident Thursday. Detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit apprehended Victor at the Human Services Department in Mars Hill. She was advised of her rights before being transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Operation Building, where she was booked and formally charged with grand larceny, embezzlement by fiduciaries, obtaining money by false pretense, participating in fraud on creditors, and accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes, the police report stated.
The court set bail at $35,000, but Magistrate Judge Venetia Velazquez permitted Victor to post ten percent of the amount. Victor posted $3,500 and was released pending her advice of rights hearing scheduled for Friday at the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, the report stated.
