A St. Croix woman is being charged with extortion for demanding a cash reward for finding a stolen wallet, the V.I. Police Department reported.
On Monday, a man was present at the Ann Schrader Command Police Station to report that he had lost his wallet on March 27. He stated that on April 6, he was informed that his wallet had been found; however, the person who found it wanted a reward, according to the police report.
Also, on Monday, an unknown female contacted the victim, asking for $2,000 in exchange for his wallet, and then lowered the amount to $1,000, the police report stated.
Later, on Monday, the unknown female suspect asked to meet with the victim in a public
location and agreed on $300 in exchange for the wallet. Upon traveling to the location, the victim met with Esther Jones, who removed a plastic bag containing the victim’s bank cards from a shopping cart and handed it to him. When the victim asked for his wallet and identification cards, Jones informed him that he would receive his other items after he withdrew the cash from the bank, the report stated.
Members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, who were waiting at the meeting point, then took Jones, 53, into custody. She was charged with attempted extortion, attempted grand larceny and appropriation of stolen property, it said.
Jones was unable to post her bail in the amount of $5,500 and was transported to the
John Bell Correctional Facility pending her advice of rights hearing, police said.
