Crime/Police
British Virgin Islands Ex-Premier Andrew Fahie Drug Trafficking Trial Shifted From July to November
Eight days after his co-accused Oleanvine Maynard and her son Kadeem Maynard pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and agreed to cooperate fully with federal prosecutors, British Virgin Islands Ex-premier Andrew Fahie filed a successful motion for more time to prepare for his trial.
His lawyer Theresa Van Vliet Fahie filed an unopposed motion on June 20 asking for his trial date to be shifted from July 17 to November, giving his legal team an additional five months to prepare.
Van Vliet told the court that the prosecution also acknowledged that between now and mid July is insufficient time to address the accused’ filed pre-trial issues.
On June 12, the Maynards pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States in a Miami federal court as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
The two face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in a federal prison and have agreed to “cooperate fully” with federal prosecutors in Fahie’s case.
Oleanvine Maynard, the former British Virgin Islands Ports Authority Managing Director and Kadeem Maynard along with the ex-BVI Finance Minister Fahie were arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration Agents (DEA) on April 28, 2022.
They were charged with conspiring to import more than five kilos of cocaine into the United States and conspiring to launder $700,000.
The female Maynard and Fahie were detained at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport in Florida on April 28, 2022.
While thirty-two-year-old Kadeem Maynard was arrested in St Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, and later deported to the United States mainland.
After spending more than a year in federal custody the Maynards changed their pleas.
Meanwhile, Fahie, the ex-First Electoral District Representative and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party, is currently on one million dollars bail – $500,000 cash and $500,000 surety – lives in his daughters’ two-bedroom apartment in Florida and wears an ankle monitor.
The trio were arrested during a DEA sting spanning meetings in the BVI, United States Virgin Islands and the United States.
The DEA affidavit stated that the informant posing as a member of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel met with Maynard and her son Kadeem in March 2022 on Tortola and St Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.
The discussion focused on using the territory’s ports to ship thousands of kilos of cocaine from Colombia to Miami and New York via Puerto Rico; each kilogram would be sold for between US$26,000 and US$38,000.
And for looking the other way, they would receive a percentage of the monies made from the sale of the narcotics. According to court documents, the ex-Ports Authority Managing Director explained the payouts will be hidden in shell companies and she would easily process the paperwork “so you can come into the territory for a couple days, and then move on.” While Fahie agreed to the arrangement for ten percent of the proceeds.
“You see my premier, he’s a little crook sometimes,” Maynard told the DEA confidential source, according to the affidavit.
A man believed to be mentally challenged was apprehended yesterday, May 8, for allegedly breaking and entering. While it is unclear whose property was involved or when the incident occurred, a voice in the video of the encounter is heard saying, “You hungry, ask for food, you don’t break into people’s houses.”
JTV understands that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has been made aware of the matter. Further details will be provided as they become available.
A 22-year-old man has been charged in connection with a late-night shooting outside a popular nightclub in Free Bottom. Following reports of gunfire in the area on Monday, April 28, 2024, officers arrested Jamari Scatliffe of John’s Hole, who now faces charges of possession of a firearm with intent to put another in fear, unlawful possession of explosives, and attempted robbery.
According to initial reports, officers responded to the scene shortly after 1:45 a.m., where two masked individuals allegedly approached a group near the nightclub, prompting one person to flee inside. The masked assailants then fired several rounds before escaping.
A subsequent search of the area recovered eight spent shell casings, including five .223 caliber and three .40 caliber rounds.
Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool commended the swift action by officers, stressing the department’s commitment to public safety.
“Gun violence has no place in our community,” Vanterpool said. “The swift action by officers to investigate and bring charges in this matter reflects our continued commitment to ensuring public safety. We thank those who have already come forward and continue to urge anyone with information to do the right thing.”
The RVIPF is encouraging anyone with information related to this or other crimes to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 or from overseas at (284) 800-8477.
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Erick Rabsatt, the 24-year-old man wanted in connection with the December 2021 fatal shooting of Jaimez A. Stoutt in the British Virgin Islands, is reportedly in custody in the United States Virgin Islands.
A source close to the matter has confirmed that Rabsatt is currently being held in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and is awaiting processing to be extradited to the British Virgin Islands to face charges in the case. No official statements have yet been released by authorities in either jurisdiction regarding the detention.
Stoutt, 31, was shot and killed inside Crystal’s Nightclub in Free Bottom, Tortola, on December 11, 2021. He was transported to Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital, where he later died. The incident occurred in the early morning hours and was followed by a police investigation that identified Rabsatt as the primary suspect. An arrest warrant was issued, and authorities launched a manhunt that extended across both the British and United States Virgin Islands.
Stoutt was a former U.S. Army soldier who served in Afghanistan in 2011. After returning to the British Virgin Islands, he worked at CCT Global Communications before founding his own landscaping business, Military Cutz. He was also known for his involvement in local basketball leagues.
Following the incident, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force issued appeals to the public for assistance in locating Rabsatt and circulated his photo throughout the region.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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