Governor-elect Stacey Plaskett's decision to include Dean Plaskett as chief of staff of her transition team is drawing scrutiny over a federal corruption case in which former Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean C. Plaskett was convicted of bribery and obstruction of justice, sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay a monetary judgment exceeding $1 million. Photo: Vic

The appointment comes as the territory continues to confront the fallout from separate federal corruption prosecutions involving several senior officials of the outgoing Bryan-Roach administration.

The official Plaskett–Potter transition website lists Dean C. Plaskett as chief of staff, working within a leadership structure headed by Transition Director Erwin Raphael. The site does not provide a biography of Plaskett or announce that he will serve as chief of staff at Government House after the inauguration.

Federal court records establish that former DPNR Commissioner Dean C. Plaskett was convicted on February 27, 2008, of one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and two counts of obstruction of justice. 

In a statement, Governor-elect Stacey E. Plaskett acknowledged the former commissioner's criminal history but defended his selection, emphasizing that he had served his sentence and should be evaluated on his ability to contribute to the incoming administration.

“Dean Plaskett’s past conviction is a matter of public record. He has served his sentence, and that chapter of his life does not erase the experience, knowledge, and abilities he brings to his work,” said Governor-elect Plaskett.

“We believe individuals should be judged not only by their past, but also by their capacity to contribute meaningfully today. As Chief of Staff, Mr. Plaskett will be held to the same standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability expected of everyone entrusted with serving the people of the Virgin Islands.”

Dean Plaskett's convictions stemmed from a government contracting scheme involving more than $1.4 million in public contracts and payments exceeding $1 million for work that was largely or entirely unperformed.

A $1.4 million government contracting scheme

According to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Dean C. Plaskett and former Department of Property and Procurement Commissioner Marc Biggs were accused of participating in "an elaborate bribery and kickback scheme" involving government officials and cooperating business owners.

The court described how participants used legitimate and fictitious businesses to secure government contracts and receive substantial progress payments despite performing little or no work.

The original federal indictment, returned in November 2007, contained 12 counts. Following a jury trial, Plaskett was convicted on three counts and acquitted of the remaining charges.

The bribery conviction concerned a $650,000 contract awarded to a shell company established by participants in the scheme.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice's account of the prosecution, the scheme involved government officials approving contract payments in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.

The department said illicit proceeds were divided among participants, with cash bribes and kickbacks totalling between $300,000 and $350,000 paid to government officials.

Plaskett's obstruction convictions arose from efforts to conceal the scheme after investigators began examining the questionable contracts.

Prosecutors established that he attempted to have fictitious documents created and backdated to give the appearance that work had been completed on another government contract.

The Third Circuit rejected challenges brought by Plaskett and Biggs and affirmed their convictions and sentences in December 2009.

Nine-year sentence and disbarment

On August 14, 2008, U.S. District Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Plaskett to 108 months, or nine years, in federal prison.

The court imposed three years of supervised release and entered a personal monetary judgment of $1,086,237.34.

The details appear in the District Court's criminal judgment, filed December 10, 2008, in United States v. Dean Plaskett, Criminal Case No. 3:07-cr-00060.