Virgin Islands Police Arrest Former Bank Teller in $100K Fraud Scheme Targeting 90-Year-Old Victim

Virgin Islands Police Arrest Former Bank Teller in $100K Fraud Scheme Targeting 90-Year-Old Victim

ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — A former bank employee has been arrested by the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) after authorities say she orchestrated a sophisticated financial fraud scheme that exploited the trust of a 90-year-old man and siphoned nearly $100,000 from his account.

Jahmaira Farrell, formerly employed as a teller at Oriental Bank, is facing serious criminal charges after VIPD’s Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) concluded an investigation into the case, which they say involved forged documents, unauthorized transactions, and a significant paper trail of financial misconduct.

A Breach of Trust at the Bank

According to a press release issued by VIPD, the investigation was launched after the elderly victim filed a formal complaint, suspecting financial irregularities with his bank account. What detectives uncovered was a troubling abuse of authority by someone who had direct access to customers’ private financial data.

VIPD alleges that Farrell, using her position at Oriental Bank, unlawfully accessed the victim’s account and created false documentation to facilitate the unauthorized withdrawal of funds. With those documents, she managed to authorize and issue a manager’s check for $100,000, made payable not to the account holder but to a co-conspirator whose name has not yet been publicly released.

That check was then deposited into an account at Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, under the accomplice’s name—thus effectively laundering the funds under the guise of a legitimate banking transaction.

A New Car and a Trail of Fraud

Authorities say the stolen money was swiftly put to use. Over $60,000 of the stolen funds was wired to Metro Motors Management Incorporation, a Florida-based auto dealership, for the purchase of a 2022 blue Acura MDX. That luxury vehicle was registered in Jahmaira Farrell’s name, indicating it was purchased for her personal use.

Further details provided by police revealed that Farrell also received a $30,000 check, while the remaining $9,613.51 was allegedly kept and spent by the accomplice.

In total, investigators say every cent of the $100,000 was fraudulently redirected for personal gain—none of it authorized by the 90-year-old victim, who entrusted his finances to the bank and its employees.

Farrell in Custody, More Charges Likely

As of this week, Farrell has been taken into custody and charged with obtaining money by false pretense, along with other financial crimes. VIPD has not yet disclosed whether additional charges will be filed, or if more individuals are being investigated in connection to the fraud scheme.

Police also indicated that the accomplice, who played a key role in the laundering and spending of the stolen money, is under investigation and may face criminal charges in the near future.

Public Reaction and Elder Fraud Concerns

The arrest has sparked renewed concern about the vulnerability of elderly individuals to financial crimes—especially when the perpetrator is someone in a position of professional trust.

“This is a heartbreaking betrayal,” said a spokesperson for the Virgin Islands Office of Elder Affairs. “To have a senior citizen—someone who lived a full life and relies on institutions to protect them—be taken advantage of in this way is deeply troubling. We hope to see justice fully served.”

VIPD Urges Vigilance

In light of this case, VIPD is urging family members and caretakers to help protect elderly loved ones from similar schemes. They encourage routine checks of account activity, securing legal safeguards like power of attorney with trusted representatives, and reporting any suspicious financial behavior immediately.

“This case is a stark reminder that financial predators can come from anywhere—even inside the institutions we trust most,” said a VIPD spokesperson. “We are committed to pursuing justice for the victim and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.”

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are expected to release more details as the case proceeds. Farrell is currently being held pending a court appearance.