On Thursday, at approximately 10:28 a.m., detectives from the Virgin Islands Police Department Economic Crimes Unit executed an arrest warrant and placed 59-year-old Joanne Nickeo under arrest at her residence, without incident., reported the V.I. Police Department.
Nickeo was charged with fraudulent use of a credit card, obtaining money by false pretense, embezzlement by employee, grand larceny, participating in fraud on creditors, and access to computer for fraudulent purposes, the police report said.
On September 25, 2023, detectives from the ECU initiated an investigation into Nickeo. This investigation revealed that Nickeo, who was the manager of Kmart in Sunny Isles Shopping Center, was entrusted with a company credit card, P-Card, to make purchases on behalf of Kmart. Nickeo willfully used the P-Card to purchase items and make withdrawals that were not authorized by Kmart for her personal benefit, on several different occasions, while she was employed with the company. Nickeo admitted to making fraudulent invoices online for her businesses J&J Supplies, Sparkling Tots, and Sparkling World, which were not legitimate. She then unlawfully claimed reimbursement for those transactions from Kmart, causing Kmart a loss of $15,358.83, according to a police report.
Nickeo was transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Police Operation Building, where she was processed and booked. Bail was set at $35,000, however, Nickeo was unable to post bail and was transported to the John A. Bell Correctional Facility pending her advice of rights hearing.
