Feds nab St. Croix man at airport trying to leave behind $23,321 in credit card fraud

FREDERIKSTED — A St. Croix man who allegedly charged up someone else’s credit card to the tune of $23,321.00 — and then tried to escape prosecution by booking a flight off-island — has been arrested.

Elvis M. Villar Jr., 26, was arrested and charged with fraudulent use of a credit card, obtaining money by false pretense and grand larceny, the Virgin Islands Police Department said. The case began on February 28, 2024, when detectives assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit began investigating Elvis M. Villar Jr., according to the VIPD.

“Investigation revealed that he knowingly used a victim’s Citi Bank credit cards on multiple occasions at multiple businesses,” VIPD spokeswoman Kishma Chichester said. “Villar, Jr. made numerous unauthorized purchases at different businesses without the victim’s permission, causing the victim and/or the financial institutions with a loss of $23,321.00.”