Convicted Impersonator Charged with Contempt of Court/Witness Tampering and Obstruction of Justice While Pending Federal Charges of Defrauding Elderly Victims, Impersonating Federal and Territorial Officials, and Obstruction of Justice

St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a federal complaint has been filed charging Yamini Potter with one count of contempt of court/witness tampering and obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. §402 and §1512. Potter is currently charged with eighty counts of wire fraud, two counts of impersonating a federal judge, and obstruction of justice in violation of federal law and two counts of acting in assumed character and one count of grand larceny in violation of Virgin Islands law. Potter’s next court date is Thursday, September 24, 2020.

According to the affidavit filed in this case, between September 3-14, 2020, Potter violated a court order which expressly prohibited Potter from contacting the alleged victims in this case. Potter is currently in custody pending federal charges and local charges for larceny. All of his phone calls are recorded. The affidavit further alleges that Potter, while impersonating Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George, called the victims in this case multiple times telling them not to testify or cooperate. He even admitted knowing there was a violation of the no contact court order.

The affidavit further alleges that Potter, pretending to be Ms. George, tells the victims not to come to court or speak with the FBI. Potter, acting as Ms. George, tells the victims Potter is dangerous because Potter committed a murder, has been in jail for murder, and describes the violence caused upon his purported victim. Potter further threatens one of the victims with murder and injury if they testify against him.

Prior court documents reveal that Potter pled guilty in 2015 to impersonating an FBI agent in violation of federal law. He was sentenced to one year in prison for that offense.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.

United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert encourages anyone, and especially elderly victims, who may be a victim of fraud – or of any other crime - to come forward and make a report to the FBI at (340) 777-3363. U.S. Attorney Shappert also reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

For more information on the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, please see: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.