Jamaican News

Ex director of US Virgin Islands legislature sent to prison for 5 years in corruption case

Kansas Legislature

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, Virgin Islands _ A former official with the legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands has been sentenced to prison in a corruption case.

Louis “Lolo” Willis was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez in St. Thomas. A jury convicted Willis of bribery and extortion in November.

Willis was executive director of the legislature from 2009-2012. The position gave him oversight over the renovation of the legislature’s building. Federal prosecutors said he accepted bribes totalling at least $13,000 to help contractors secure $350,000 in work on the project.

The 57-year-old Willis denied wrongdoing. At his trial, his lawyer argued that he had approved contracts without the required review to complete the renovation more efficiently.

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