Golden Testifies Stephanie Barnes Knew Government Money Was Being Used to Finance Barnes's Personal Expenses
Former V.I. Casino Control Commission (VICCC) chairperson Anne Golden was subpoenaed and testified on Monday at the Almeric L. Christian Federal Building on St. Croix before District Court Chief Justice Robert Molloy. Ms. Golden admitted to conspiring with Stephanie Barnes to defraud the government. The day ended with Ms. Golden’s testimony, and it was expected that Tuesday’s court session would continue with additional testimony and cross-examination of Ms. Golden.
2021-12-14 12:29:10 - VI News Staff
Ms. Golden was recently released from prison after serving time for theft of government funds and failing to file an income tax return. On Dec. 8, the federal government in its opening statement Wednesday said that evidence will show Ms. Barnes was a willing partner with Ms. Golden in a conspiracy to steal both local and federal money, as well as filing a false tax return in violation of Virgin Islands law.
Several times, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Koster asked Ms. Golden if she thought her actions in relation to fraudulent spending and Barnes’s contract terms were appropriate. Each time, she responded and said, “In retrospect, no.” That response was pointedly followed up by Attn. Koster asking, “Who benefited from this?” Each time, Ms. Golden responded, “Ms. Barnes.”
Ms. Golden was also asked whether or not Ms. Barnes knew that she was using government funds—either in the form of VICCC credit cards or checks — to pay for Ms. Barnes’s personal vehicle repairs, new vehicle, paid dependent travel, countless dinners, car rentals, hotel accommodations, several trips, and more. Ms. Golden confirmed, “Yes, she was told.”
In the instance of Ms. Barnes’s vehicle expenses, Ms. Golden paid upwards of $10,000 on vehicular repairs for Ms. Barnes’ personal vehicle, a 2007 Jeep Wrangler. Ms. Golden said that she was only trying to help Ms. Barnes as she needed reliable transportation to perform the duties of her job and commute with her son with a disability. Although work invoices at a St. Croix auto repair shop were billed to Ms. Barnes and Ms. Golden, neither party utilized their personal finances to settle the bill. Instead, Ms. Golden utilized government funds.
“Did she ever offer to repay for funds used to pay for car expenses?” Attn. Koster asked. To this, Ms. Golden responded, “No.”
Eventually, Ms. Golden said that Ms. Barnes was without a vehicle altogether and came to Golden requesting that Golden help her co-sign on a loan to purchase a vehicle. Both parties agreed that once Ms. Barnes paid the $10,000 down payment, Golden would assist Barnes in getting a USAA loan towards a 2016 Jeep Wrangler off the lot at Caribbean Auto Mart. The total value of the Jeep was about $43,000 and both Barnes and Golden’s names are affixed to the title, as presented in evidence. Ms. Golden testified that she did this with the understanding that Ms. Barnes would pay on the note for a monthly payment of $639 thereafter; however, Golden said that Barnes never did, so she continued to pay on the car note so it didn’t go into default.