Stephanie Barnes released from prison after serving three years for theft conspiracy at the CCC

ST. CROIX — A former contractor for the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission convicted in a conspiracy to steal government funds was released from the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility on St. Croix today after serving just over three years in prison.

Stephanie Barnes was charged in 2019 along with former CCC Chair Violet Anne Golden in a 30-count indictment alleging conspiracy to embezzle government funds, money laundering, and making fraudulent claims upon the government. A jury found Barnes guilty on December 23, 2021 of one federal crime — conspiracy to commit theft from programs receiving government funds. She was also found guilty of two local crimes — receipt of government property and filing a false tax return. She received three concurrent sentences totaling three years and eight months in prison.

Now that Barnes is out of prison, she will be on supervised release for three years. The conditions of her release require her to pay $247,489.93 in restitution to the Casino Control Commission, making monthly payments. She was also fined $10,000 in addition to a $300 special assessment.