$66k In Unpaid Taxes And Indifference Toward Mafoliegate – Senator Russell Has Some Explaining To Do

July 31, 2011

Did renovations start at deJongh's Mafolie home before the 2006 election?

Senate President Ronald Russell tells us he is serious about finding ways to resolve the “financial crisis” facing the Virgin Islands and that the government should “lead by example.”

So we’ve got a suggestion that will aid him in both his assertions – he can pay the $66,684.51 he owes to the government in back taxes. That way, he can help bolster the failing economy and set an example for others to follow.

That includes his chief executive officer Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. who has admitted spending nearly a half million dollars in public money to fix up his private Mafolie home. But despite the emergence of what could be compelling photographic evidence this week – evidence indicating that those Mafolie renovations happened before the 2006 election – Russell says not to bother him, or the Legislature, with what he calls an illogical politically motivated attempt to squander the Legislature’s resources.

Pity. Between the two of them, the treasury could get at least a $566.000 contribution right off the bat.

Russell’s Taxes

Sen. President Ronald Russell

Attached below is a lien filed on December 8, 2010 against Ronald and Roylette Russell showing an unpaid tax balance of $66,684.51 for income taxes from 2006 in the amount of $14, 517.68 and from a 4549A charge in the amount of $52,166.83 from tax year 2005. 4549A charges generally stem from audits conducted by the Internal Revenue Service.

The charges were assessed in January of 2009 and May of 2010. If a release of the lien has been issued, it was not visible. If the Senator has verifiable proof these taxes have been paid, we’ll print it.

The Satellite Images

Satellite photographs were revealed last week showing construction at then private citizen deJongh’s Mafolie residence in November of 2006, preceding the election that gave him his first term.

The photographs show construction in the areas that were later revealed to be the guardhouse and parking lot later discovered to be paid for with public funds. The images were downloaded from Google Earth and do not appear to have been altered in any way.

The major issues stemming from this revelation are two-fold:

The rationale for the expenditure of public funds on the Mafolie property was that the renovations were essential for the safety of the Governor. deJongh was not governor at the time the photographs were taken.
Does the evidence of construction prior to the election indicate preemptive knowledge of the election results?

At minimum, one would expect that the Legislature, having held three hearings during the Twenty-Eighth Legislature and reporting findings to the US Attorney General, would have at minimum some curiosity as to the impact of these findings and at maximum, would reconvene a session to investigate this new information. Don’t you even wonder if the photos are legitimate?

Not Senator Russell.