Charlemagnes Plead Not Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges in Hurricane Relief Case

Couple accused of exploiting hurricane recovery funds plead not guilty; trial set for August 5 following two-year federal investigation

ST. CROIX — Davidson Charlemagne and wife, Sasha Charlemagne, were arraigned on Thursday at the District Court of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix. They both pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to defraud taxpayers of $4 million through exploitation of hurricane recovery funds.

A week ago, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced the arrests, which stemmed from a two-year federal investigation into a V.I. Housing Finance Authority contract for the storage and management of wood brought to the territory as disaster relief, earmarked for the reconstruction of buildings damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.