Two Virgin Islands Commissioners Sentenced in Bribery and Kickback Scheme

WASHINGTON – The former commissioners of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) and the Department of Property and Procurement (P&P) were sentenced to nine and seven years in prison, respectively , for their roles in a $1.4 million bribery and kickback scheme, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Jenkins of the District of the Virgin Islands announced today. Chief Judge Curtis V. Gomez also ordered a money judgment of $1,086,237 and $960,482 against the former commissioners, respectively, and sentenced them both to three years of supervised release. Former DPNR Commissioner Dean C. Plaskett, 43, and former P&P Commissioner Marc A. Biggs, 42, were found guilty on Feb. 27, 2008, following a two-week jury trial, of demanding... [read full story]