April 2, 2008 — Prosecuting and defense attorneys now have until May 9 to gather and share all information needed in the case against former GERS administrator Willis C. Todmann, V.I. Superior Court Judge Leon Kendall ruled Wednesday during a brief pre-jury conference on St. Thomas.
After the new deadline for discovery has passed, Kendall can move forward with setting a trial date, prosecuting attorney Denise George-Counts explained after the hearing.
Todmann has already pleaded not guilty to charges of embezzlement, conversion of government property, forgery and grand larceny.
The charges stem from a nine-month criminal investigation triggered in April 2007 after the Attorney General's Office received a complaint alleging that Todmann had "wrongfully" been collecting two paychecks during his tenure at the Government Employees' Retirement System, resulting in nearly $113,000 in unauthorized payments and $33,462 in retroactive payments between February 2006 and February 2007.
Todmann also allegedly forged a memo from GERS board Chairman Carver Farrow authorizing the payment of an additional salary, according to court documents.
Without revealing any details, GERS board members placed Todmann on administrative leave last year. Todmann resigned soon after — the same day board members went public with financial irregularities without linking the two events. (See "Former GERS Administrator Charged with Embezzling from Pension Fund.")
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