The accused, Tammy Stevens, arrived on St Croix Sunday, April 4, 2021, with what she admitted was a modified Covid-19 test result from 'Real Diagnostics'. Photo: VIC

Ms Tammy Stevens was the second person to be arrested for allegedly submitting fraudulent Covid-19 test documents. Clifford H. Mattson was arrested on Saturday, April 3, 2021, at about 1:30 pm at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St Croix and was charged with making fraudulent claims upon the government and sending or delivering false messages. Photo: VIC

The accused, Tammy Stevens, arrived on St Croix Sunday, April 4, 2021, with what she admitted was a modified Covid-19 test result from "Real Diagnostics", according to Wanson Harris, USVI Department of Health (DoH) director of environmental health, who filed the affidavit. Mr Harris said the documents submitted by Ms Stevens was suspicious because "the name and dates appear to be sharper than the rest of the form" and therefore local health officials did not give the clearance for travel.

Health officials also contacted the Florida Department of Health, which confirmed that the result Ms Stevens uploaded into the USVI Travel Portal was not in the state's health database, according to Mr Harris.

Woman altered COVID-19 document

Even so, Ms Stevens flew in on Sunday and received a call from Mr Harris on Tuesday to be interviewed, which she agreed to, he said. Ms Stevens proceeded to tell Mr Harris that a few months ago she had tested positive for Covid-19 and believed it was okay to travel, presumably because of natural antibodies that are produced following one's diagnosis of the disease. She had attempted to secure a COVID-19 test at Walgreens, she said, according to Mr Harris, but was unable to get a timely date ahead of her planned travel back home on Sunday. This prompted Ms Stevens to modify the results of the "Real Diagnosis" test received through an app downloaded on her phone. Once downloaded, she altered the document by placing her name and date of birth, she said during the interview, according to Mr Harris.

Mr Harris said Ms Stevens admitted to submitting the falsified documents upon her arrival at the Henry E. Rohlen airport on Sunday, and that she "acknowledged the terms and conditions on the USVI Travel Portal prior to submitting the results."

She made bail of $5,500 and was released pending her advisement hearing. 

Ms Stevens was the second person to be arrested for allegedly submitting fraudulent Covid-19 test documents. Clifford H. Mattson was arrested on Saturday, April 3, 2021, at about 1:30 pm at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St Croix and was charged with making fraudulent claims upon the government and sending or delivering false messages.