ST. CROIX — Superior Court Judge Ernest Morris Jr. on Wednesday scheduled a November 9 trial for 11 defendants accused in a $309,000 Medicaid fraud scheme.
During a discovery hearing on St. Croix, Morris also extended the deadline for pretrial motions to July 31. A status conference is set for August 7, followed by a pretrial conference on October 23.
The case stems from a Virgin Islands Department of Justice investigation that led to the January 28 arrests of six Department of Human Services employees and five relatives or associates. Prosecutors allege the defendants improperly used government computer systems to alter or bypass eligibility safeguards, resulting in the unlawful disbursement of $309,099.44 in Medicaid funds.
READ MORE: Eleven arrested in MAP, SNAP fraud; Akim Davis turns himself in after wanted bulletin, 10 post bail
The suspended employees worked in the Department of Human Services’ Medical Assistance Program (MAP), which administers Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
As Morris reviewed the status of discovery individually with attorneys representing each defendant, two lawyers indicated that plea offers had been extended and discussions with prosecutors were ongoing.
Attorney H. Hannibal O’Bryan, chief conflict counsel with the Office of Conflict Counsel who represents defendant Shantenysha Victor-Davis, said prosecutors had made an offer but that he had not yet discussed it with his client.
Morris noted that criminal cases are expected to be resolved within 270 days and said 140 days had already elapsed.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Patricia Lynn Pryor, director of the Department of Justice’s White-Collar Crime and Public Corruption Unit, did not object to setting a trial date. After consulting with attorneys, Morris scheduled the trial for 9 a.m. November 9.
Attorney Michael Haas, who represents defendant Doenyka Lewis, told the court he was hopeful the matter could be resolved before trial.
Attorney Renee Dowling, who represents Shanoya Hendrickson, said discovery materials provided by prosecutors appeared incomplete. Dowling said she had reviewed about one-third of the approximately 3,000 pages of documents produced in the case and believed some materials were missing.
Pryor disputed that assertion, telling the court that all discovery materials for each defendant had been provided to every defense attorney.
The court also addressed a motion filed by attorney Lesa Pascal, who represents defendant Akim Davis. Pascal said she had only recently become involved in the case and sought to withdraw, arguing she lacked experience handling criminal matters. Morris denied the request.
In addition to MAP employees Victor-Davis, Lewis, and Hendrickson, and Davis, husband of Victor-Davis, the defendants include MAP employee Kenera Sheneal Frederick and SNAP employees Lisa Minelli Montanez and Clarissa Nuñez. The other four defendants are Carmen Saldana-Nuñez, mother of Nuñez; Karen Blyden, mother of Hendrickson; Sharon Henry, mother of Frederick; and Shane Gaston, who has a child with Montanez.
All 11 defendants pleaded not guilty following their arrests.
READ MORE: All 11 defendants charged in $309,000 Medicaid fraud scheme advised of rights, plead not guilty
Each defendant is charged with Medicaid fraud, accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes and filing fraudulent claims against the government. Nuñez, Victor-Davis, Lewis, Montanez, and Frederick also face embezzlement charges.
The maximum penalties are five years in prison for Medicaid fraud and accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes, two years for fraudulent claims against the government, and 10 years for embezzlement.
