SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Dozens of irate clients in the U.S. Virgin Islands are scrambling to recover at least $2.5 million from a missing real estate agent who is a mother of six.
The Virgin Islands Department of Justice has issued a sealed arrest warrant for Rosemary Sauter-Frett, a well-known businesswoman who was a frequent guest on a popular radio show and owned RE/MAX Dream Properties in St. Thomas.
Justice officials have alerted the U.S. Marshal Service about the warrant filed last week and are trying to obtain a warrant to search Sauter-Frett's office and home, spokeswoman Sara Lezama said Tuesday.
Puerto Rico-based FBI spokesman Harry Rodriguez said the agency is prepared to help if local authorities believe Sauter-Frett left the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At least $2.5 million is at stake in escrow accounts that Sauter-Frett managed, said Kerstin McConnell, president of the St. Thomas Board of Realtors.
"I don't know where she is, and I don't know why anybody can't find her," McConnell said. "The AG's office is inundated with people complaining."
Kevin D'Amour, who is representing three clients who he says lost a quarter of a million dollars, sought a temporary restraining order for the escrow accounts and the appointment of a receiver.
A hearing is set for Wednesday, and D'Amour said he also has filed a lawsuit against Sauter-Frett.
A man who answered the phone at Sauter-Frett's home said her husband was not available for comment, and an e-mail sent to her was returned because her inbox was full. Her cell phone's voicemail also was full.
Sauter-Frett appeared in court in December to testify against two high-ranking police officers who were later convicted of extortion and bribery.
Defense attorneys said the officers were posing as corrupt cops to investigate Sauter-Frett for an alleged $150,000 murder-for-hire plot against her husband. Sauter-Frett was not charged and an investigation into the claim was not opened.
Sauter-Frett testified because she had rented the car involved in the case, saying someone hired by her maintenance crew took it without permission.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010