AG Denise George: VIDOJ Agents arrest detainee K’zsa Hodge for Embezzlement

(U.S. Virgin Islands)- V.I. Attorney General Denise George announced that V.I. Department of Justice Special Agents (VIDOJ) arrested 26-year-old K’zsa Hodge on elder financial abuse and exploitation charges including Embezzlement, Forgery, Grand Larceny, Possession of Forged Instruments and Obtaining Money by false Pretense.

Ms. Hodge was arrested at the Bureau of Corrections based on a warrant signed by Magistrate Judge Paula Norkaitis on June 3, 2022. She is currently an inmate at the Bureau of Corrections serving a two-year sentence year for a prior Forgery case. She has served 6 months and is up for parole consideration.

According to an Affidavit of Probable Cause in support of the arrest warrant, dated June 3, 2022, on or about January 28, 2022, VIDOJ investigators received a complaint from a senior citizen in relation to allegations of a theft and forgery of his by his wife’s caretaker, Kzsa Hodge, who was hired to take care of his wife who was suffering from a hip injury. Both the complainant and his wife are senior citizens ages 76 and 84 respectively.

The Complainant was able to identify 31 of his checks made payable to K’zsa Hodge, which he had not authorized or issued. The total amount of the checks fraudulently drawn on the accounts of the complainant totaled $30,100.00. Magistrate Judge Norkaitis found probable cause and set bail at $30,000 on the arrest warrant. Hodge is scheduled for advice of rights on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 10:00am. Attorney General reminds the public that any person charged with a crime in the Virgin Islands is considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2022 Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340)774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: Sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov