By Blox Content Management,By BIBIANA SNYDER Special to The Daily News
Copyright virginislandsdailynews
A St. Croix man who fled the territory over a decade ago after being accused of fraud was extradited from Texas and sentenced this week in V.I. Superior Court, according to the Justice Department.
Kenneth L. Springer, 50, of Catherine’s Rest, pleaded guilty to three counts of obtaining money by false pretense and was sentenced Friday to five years of probation, Attorney General Gordon Rhea said.
Officials said Springer posed as a contractor between March and July 2007 and defrauded two women of $4,150 and $3,330, respectively. He also filed a forged deed transferring title of property at Plot 107C Solitude to himself.
The case was originally filed in 2010, but Springer failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued in January 2023, officials said. He was arrested in Texas and extradited to St. Croix in August, remaining in custody until his guilty plea.
As part of his sentence, Springer must return the property deed to its rightful owner, repay the victims in full and perform 100 hours of community service before he is allowed to return to Texas. He also must show proof the property has no liens, mortgages or other claims, according to the DOJ.
Rhea thanked Acting Deputy Attorney General Patricia Lynn Pryor, Assistant Director Gisselle Quinones of the Special Investigations Division, the Economic Crimes Unit of the V.I. Police Department and other officers involved in the investigation.
