November 21st, 2014
WASHINGTON—After a three-day trial, a federal jury found the former executive director of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands guilty of accepting bribes and extortion in the awarding of contracts with the Legislature.
Louis “Lolo†Willis, 56, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, was convicted of two counts of federal programs bribery and two counts of extortion under color of official right. U.S. District Judge Curtis V. Gomez of the District of the Virgin Islands set the sentencing hearing for Feb. 13, 2015.
According to evidence presented at trial, Willis was the executive director of the Legislature between 2009 and 2012. His responsibilities included oversight of the major renovation of the Legislature building and awarding and entering into government contracts in connection with the project. Willis was also responsible for authorizing payment to the contractors for their work. Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Willis accepted bribes, including $13,000 in cash and checks, from contractors in exchange for using his official position to secure more than $350,000 in contracting work for the contractors and to ensure they received payment upon completion.
This case was investigated by the FBI-San Juan Field Office’s St. Thomas Resident Agency, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General. back...
Louis “Lolo†Willis, 56, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, was convicted of two counts of federal programs bribery and two counts of extortion under color of official right. U.S. District Judge Curtis V. Gomez of the District of the Virgin Islands set the sentencing hearing for Feb. 13, 2015.
According to evidence presented at trial, Willis was the executive director of the Legislature between 2009 and 2012. His responsibilities included oversight of the major renovation of the Legislature building and awarding and entering into government contracts in connection with the project. Willis was also responsible for authorizing payment to the contractors for their work. Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Willis accepted bribes, including $13,000 in cash and checks, from contractors in exchange for using his official position to secure more than $350,000 in contracting work for the contractors and to ensure they received payment upon completion.
This case was investigated by the FBI-San Juan Field Office’s St. Thomas Resident Agency, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General. back...
