Ex-Bank Teller Arrested: Bilked 90-Year-Old Out Of $100K

St. Croix Times Staff

St. Croix - On January 29, 2025, the Economic Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into a complaint filed by a 90-year-old male victim, who reported an incident of Obtaining Money by False Pretense. The investigation uncovered that Jahmaira Farrell, while employed as a bank teller at Oriental Bank, abused her access and authority to fraudulently obtain funds from the victim’s bank account. 

In an elaborate scheme, Ms. Farrell created false documents to authorize the printing of a Manager’s Check for $100,000, payable to her accomplice. This accomplice subsequently deposited the check into his Banco Popular de Puerto Rico account and later wired $60,386.49 to Metro Motors Management Inc. in Florida for the purchase of a 2022 blue Acura MDX, which is owned by Ms. Farrell; and provided Ms. Farrell a check in the amount of $30,000, which she deposited into her personal Bank of St. Croix account. During this incident the accomplice retained and spent the remaining $9,613.51 using his Banco Popular account.  

Additional fraudulent checks were discovered to have been cashed against the victim’s account, however these checks were determined to fall outside the statute of limitations.

As a result of this investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Jahmaira Farrell.

On June 9, 2025, Detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit, were present at the United States Postal Services facility located in Mars Hill, where Ms. Farrell was currently employed, whereby 29-year-old Jahmaira Farrell was advised of her rights, served her arrest warrant, and placed under arrest without incident. Ms. Farrell was then transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Operation building, where she was subsequently booked and charged with Obtaining Money by False Pretense, Forgery, Uttering or Passing Forged or Counterfeited Matters, Passing or Possession of Forged Bills or Notes, Embezzlement by Fiduciaries, Grand Larceny, Aggravated Identity Theft Participating in Fraud on Creditors, Access to Computer for Fraudulent Purposes, Financial Exploitation of an Elderly or Dependent Adult, and Conspiracy. 

Based on the incident - in which Detectives say Ms. Farrell exploited her position at Oriental Bank by forging the victim’s signature to close a certificate of deposit and issued a $100,000 Manager’s Check to her accomplice - bail was set at $35,000 for the alleged incident. Unable to post bail, Ms. Farrell was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correction Facility pending her Advice of Rights Hearing. 

Subsequently, the victim’s niece has filed a civil lawsuit against Oriental Bank in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, accusing the bank of gross negligence along with other accusations, and for the refusal to reimburse the $100,000 taken from the 90-year-old customer’s account.

BBreaking News: Accomplice Arrested

ECU issued an arrest warrant for 44-year-old Mylon Allen who surrendered at the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station., where he was advised of his rights, served his arrest warrant and placed under arrest without incident.. Mr. Allen was booked and charged with the identical crimes as Ms. Farrell. Bail was initially set at $20,000, however. Magistrate Judge Venetia Velazquez granted him permission to post just $800 toward his release. Mr. Allen was subsequently released and is scheduled to appear for his Advice of Rights hearing at V.I. Superior Court.