St. Thomas Restaurateur Arrested in $888,500 Fraud Investigation
St. Thomas restaurateur Brett “Mac” McClafferty was arrested on February 21, 2026, in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation involving approximately $888,500 in alleged counterfeit and fraudulent financial transactions, according to law enforcement and court records.
Details of the Allegations
The investigation began following a complaint filed in June 2024 by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. Authorities allege that between January and June 2024, a series of fraudulent transactions were conducted through personal and business accounts associated with McClafferty.
According to investigators:
- Counterfeit and fraudulent checks drawn from entities in the British Virgin Islands were allegedly deposited.
- Bank drafts issued from a Discover account were later returned unpaid due to stop-payment requests or insufficient funds.
- Funds from these instruments were allegedly withdrawn or wired to third parties before the financial institutions determined they were invalid.
- In total, authorities allege 12 transactions amounting to approximately $888,500.
Banco Popular reportedly confirmed a financial loss exceeding $80,000. Some transactions were flagged before funds were withdrawn, preventing additional losses.
Arrest and Charges
An arrest warrant was issued on December 30, 2025, with bail set at $150,000. McClafferty was taken into custody by the Virgin Islands Police Department’s Economic Crime Unit with assistance from federal authorities.
He faces multiple felony charges, including:
- Grand larceny
- Possession or passing of forged bills
- Obtaining money by false pretenses
- Making and passing fictitious bills and notes
- Drawing and delivering worthless checks
At the time of his arrest, he was unable to post bail and was remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending court proceedings.
Public Statements
Business associate Sunil Sharma, executive chef and partner at St. Thomas Social, has publicly denied wrongdoing on behalf of McClafferty. Sharma stated that a deposit referenced in the investigation was made by a former general manager for a private event that did not take place after a check was returned. He maintains that McClafferty was not involved in that specific transaction.
Attorney Kye Walker also publicly clarified that she does not represent McClafferty in this matter.
Legal Proceedings Ongoing
The case is proceeding through the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. As with all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.