July 18, 2007 — More than 20 FBI, IRS criminal investigation and VIPD personnel swarmed Strand Street in Frederiksted Wednesday, targeting two businesses, Allied Management Partners (AMP) and Agilis Benefit Services, LLC.
Law-enforcement personnel stood guard at the doors of the businesses, only allowing other officers to enter. Officers walked back and forth between the two establishments, which are about three blocks apart. However, everyone involved was tight-lipped about what was unfolding.
"We are conducting a sealed investigation," said public relations officer Melissa Amador, who is assigned to the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Internal Revenue Service. They were acting on a search warrant, she said, adding that the investigation is a joint operation between law enforcement from Charlotte, N.C., the IRS-CIB and the VIPD. Employees at both businesses were sent home, no files were removed from the offices and no arrests were made, Amador said.
Onlookers speculated about the unusual activity on the usually tranquil Frederiksted waterfront area as other business operated without interruption. Summer campers played on the grass, couples strolled hand in hand on the promenade and employees ran their daily errands. But the presence of numerous officers in blue T-shirts was a visible reminder that something was amiss.
"This is not good for Frederiksted town," said one worker at Richards and Ayer Real Estate who asked not to be identified. Agilis Benefit Services is located on the second floor. "There are a lot of good people who work up there," she said.
Some residents speculated that the activity had something to do with Economic Development Authority (EDA) compliance. However, EDA Chief Executive Officer Frank Schulterbrandt said Wednesday afternoon he had no knowledge about the ongoing investigation. AMP is an EDA beneficiary and Agilis has applied to be a single-owner entity under a current beneficiary, but that request has not been acted on by EDA, he said.
Schulterbrandt also noted that any investigation involving tax enforcement is not under the jurisdiction of the EDA.
When contacted later in the evening for an update, Amador said she had no additional information to reveal about the investigation. When asked if law-enforcement officers would be at the businesses again Thursday, she replied, "I hope not.”
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