Jury selection and opening statements were expected today in the trial of George Patrick, former solid waste director for the Department of Public Works, who was indicted in October 2000 on charges that he fraudulently obtained contracts to provide armed security guards in the aftermath of Hurricane Marilyn in 1995.
The federal indictment accused the 57-year-old Patrick of executing a scheme between September 1995 and April 1996 to collect $171,000 in payments from the federal government. He was formally charged with nine counts of making false claims and ten counts of using the postal system to further the fraud.
The indictment further said that neither Patrick nor his business, Patrick Processing and Consulting Services, was licensed to provide security services. But it was alleged he entered into contracts with the federal government to provide armed security at several sites including disaster relief sites, water and ice staging areas, generator storage areas and the Bovoni landfill.
Among the government witnesses expected to be called were former Police Commissioner Ramon Davila. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugh "Pete" Mabe. District Court Judge Thomas K. Moore will preside over the trial at the federal courthouse on St. Thomas.
