Two Virgin Islands National Guard soldiers have been indicted by a grand jury, arrested and charged with wire fraud, theft of government money and making false statements to the government.
Lt. Col. Kenneth Alleyne, 45, and Staff Sgt. Emmrie Edwards, 37, were arrested on Thursday, U.S Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe said in a statement. The charges relate to improper use of government issued housing allowance funds, according to Sharpe.
Alleyne is facing 44 counts of, one count of theft of government money, and one count of making a false statement to the government. Edwards is charged with 47 counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government money, and one count of making a false statement to the government, U.S Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe said in a statement.
Alleyne was identified in an Army feature story last year as chief of the Virgin Islands National Guard strategic initiatives and plans division.
The two were released on bond, with Edwards scheduled for arraignment on May 4 and Alleyne on May 6.
Sharpe said the indictments followed months of investigative work by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command Major Procurement Fraud Unit, Homeland Security Investigations and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The theft of government money charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The making a false statement to the government charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Bryant Jordan can be reached at bryant.jordan@military.com.
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