Alabama woman arrested in Virgin Islands for providing fake COVID-19 test results

Published 5:59 am Monday, April 26, 2021

An Alabama woman was arrested in the U.S Virgin Islands after officials say she submitted a fake COVID-19 test.

Franketa A. Taylor, of Birmingham, Alabam, has been charged with making fraudulent claims upon the government, gaining access to a computer for fraudulent purposes, use of false information, and filing or recording forged instruments, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News.

Taylor reportedly submitted an altered negative COVID-19 test result into the travel portal. The travel portal, is used to screen incoming travelers for illness to prevent the spread of the virus.

The U.S. Virgin Islands territory currently requires visitors to provide a negative COVID-19 test within five days of arrival.

According to Virgin Island Daily News, Taylor was unable to post her $5,500 bail and was turned over to the V.I. Bureau of Corrections pending an advice-of-rights hearing.