The defense’s argument was weakened when Golden appeared on the stand on December 13. Instead, Golden was solely responsible for the misused government funds. The defense tried to portray a picture of Barnes as unaware of the way the Casino Control Commission was spending the funds.

He called the government’s charges “propaganda” and stated that the Office of the Inspector General, headed by Marsha Dubois, in an audit of the Casino Control Commission, created a report that “reads like a soap opera.” The audit played a key role in the outcome of the trial. Martial Webster was Barnes’s attorney and went after the government in his opening statements.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 20 of next year. After it handed down its ruling, Barnes turned herself in. This was referring to the hundreds and thousands of dollars of taxpayer funds that were said to have been spent at the time of the crimes. Jill Koster, the lead prosecutor in the case, stated that Barnes knew “what was in Golden’s wallet” during opening statements. Evidence also revealed that Barnes received $568,104 in total, including more than $113,000 in travel, perks and vehicle expenses. However, it is not clear for what purpose the contract was. Evidence revealed that Barnes received a $65,000 contract between April and June 2015. She had been charged by the federal government with conspiracy to steal from programs, receiving federal funds in contravention of US laws, receipt of stolen government money, filing false tax returns in violation of Virgin Islands law, and receiving federal funds in violations of US Law.Įvidence proved that Barnes colluded with Violet Anne Golden, former VI Casino Control Commission Chair, in a scheme to steal federal and local money, as well as file a false tax return. Slam-Dunk Case For the Juryīarnes was convicted by the jury after just six hours of deliberation. Barnes faces a maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison. Barnes was once a member of the US Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission and, during her time with the entity, colluded with its former commissioner to embezzle over $800,000. 15 days after making her first appearance in court, Stephanie Barnes was found guilty by a jury on embezzlement charges.

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