Man on probation for forged documents faces new fraud charge

Kishsion Thomas, a 39-year-old pest control worker from St. Croix, was taken into custody and brought before the courts Monday on a fresh felony charge of obtaining money or property by false pretenses, less than a year after receiving a suspended prison sentence for fabricating official documents.

Thomas appeared in Superior Court at Kingshill before Magistrate Judge Christopher M. Timmons for an Advice of Rights hearing. The Virgin Islands Police Department's Economic Crimes Unit had issued a wanted person alert for him on October 7, noting that he worked for Oliver Exterminating and frequented Mutual Homes and Estate La Grange while making pest control service calls across St. Croix.

His current arrest violates the conditions of his release. In January 2026, Superior Court Judge Venetia Harvey Velazquez handed down a one-year prison term that was entirely suspended, coupled with two years of supervised probation. This came after Thomas pleaded guilty to fabricating a Virgin Islands Police Department criminal history record that he used to obtain work with the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority.

That earlier case involved significant prosecutorial concessions. In October 2025, the Department of Justice dropped felony sexual offense charges and felony forgery charges in exchange for Thomas's guilty plea on the single count of fraudulent claims upon the government. The sentencing order required him to obey all laws, complete a Theft Awareness Program, and maintain no contact with the Waste Management Authority.

Thomas was represented by the Office of the Territorial Public Defender during Monday's hearing. The court will set bail terms and schedule an arraignment after the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day holiday. His new arrest exposes him to probation revocation proceedings, which could activate the one-year jail sentence that was previously suspended.