Louis Willis, Bribery and Extortion, Virgin Islands 2015
Federal authorities today announced the conviction of Louis 'Lolo' Willis, 56, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in connection with a bribery and extortion scheme involving government contracts with the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.
According to evidence presented at trial, Willis, who served as the executive director of the Legislature between 2009 and 2012, accepted bribes from contractors in exchange for using his official position to secure more than $350,000 in contracting work and ensure they received payment upon completion.
The scheme involved $13,000 in cash and checks, which Willis accepted from contractors in exchange for his official favor.
The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Willis was responsible for authorizing payment to the contractors for their work and that he used his official position to secure more than $350,000 in contracting work for the contractors.
Willis was convicted of two counts of federal programs bribery and two counts of extortion under color of official right. U.S. District Judge Curtis V. Gomez set the sentencing hearing for Feb. 13, 2015.
This case was investigated by the FBI-San Juan Field Office's St. Thomas Resident Agency, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Peter Mason and Justin Weitz of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Delia Smith of the District of the Virgin Islands.
Former Trial Attorneys Tracee Plowell and Jennifer Blackwell and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Lindquist assisted in the investigation of the case.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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