ST. CROIX — Brett “Mac” McClafferty, a St. Thomas restaurateur accused of running a counterfeit check scheme involving his restaurant, St. Thomas Social, has filed a motion in Superior Court requesting that the government immediately return $15,900 in cash police seized from his home safe during the execution of a search warrant.
In his motion, filed last Thursday by attorney Nicole-Lynn King-Richardson, McClafferty stated the money did not belong to him personally and was not even on the list of items officers were authorized to seize.
According to the filing, the government’s search warrant did not list “cash” as a seizable item. McClafferty stated that the funds belonged to Social Hospitality Group — the company that owns and operates his restaurant, St. Thomas Social — and were being kept in his home safe for safekeeping. Because the warrant did not authorize the seizure of cash, McClafferty argued the government has no lawful basis to hold it and should return it without delay.
The search warrant that led to the cash seizure was supported by an affidavit from Virgin Islands Police Department Detective Tiffany Tyson, who attested there was probable cause to believe evidence of grand larceny, passing or possession of forged bills, obtaining money by false pretenses, and drawing and delivering worthless checks would be found at McClafferty’s business, in his vehicle, or in his possession.
The list of items Tyson sought to seize was extensive — check blanks, templates, counterfeit checks, supplies or equipment capable of producing counterfeit checks, and a broad sweep of electronics including cell phones, tablets, printers, scanners, computers, check-printing software, and data storage devices.
Cash, notably, was not on the list.
The motion is the latest development in McClafferty’s case. He was arrested on February 21 and charged with grand larceny, passing or possession of forged bills, obtaining money by false pretenses, making and passing fictitious bills, and drawing and delivering worthless checks — all stemming from what prosecutors have described as an $888,500 counterfeit check scheme tied to St. Thomas Social. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation that led to his arrest began in June 2024, after Banco Popular de Puerto Rico flagged suspicious activity. An arrest warrant was issued December 30, 2025, and McClafferty was taken into custody roughly two months later. He was subsequently released on bail after posting a reduced cash bond.
On March 4, McClafferty filed a civil lawsuit in Superior Court against Banco Popular. The complaint accuses the bank of negligence, defamation, abuse of process, false arrest, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to McClafferty’s lawsuit, the underlying dispute involves checks connected to a proposed medical symposium that was to be held at St. Thomas Social. McClafferty claims the bank accepted the deposits and initially made the funds available but later returned the checks and filed what the complaint characterizes as an inaccurate police report accusing him of fraud. Both McClafferty and Social Hospitality Group Inc. are named as plaintiffs in that civil action.
McClafferty’s motion to return the seized cash remains pending.
