Crime/Police
Nyron Erickson accused of Trafficking illegal guns, drugs and collecting proceeds of criminal conduct between Jan – Dec 2021 while incarcerated

Charges laid indictable, Defence Lawyer Argue for Bail
The twenty charges Nyron Erickson now faces in the British Virgin Islands surround alleged involvement of guns, drugs and money crimes perpetrated between January – December 2021 via phone communication with Jose Almestica who was a fugitive in the territory at the time. This was revealed by Crown Prosecutor Khadija Beddeau in the Magistrate Court today, September 25, 2023.
Accompanied by police officers, a handcuffed Erickson was brought to the High Court Building located at the upper flat of the House of Assembly building in Road Town, Tortola for a virtual appearance before Senior Magistrate Senior Magistrate Tamia Richard.
The court heard that following the arrest of Almestica on December 7, 2021 investigations found phone evidence of communications between the two detailing instructions and confirmations of multiple illegal activities between January – December 2021.
During the bail application, Erickson’s lawyer, Valerie Stephens-Gordon, contended that despite being in custody for more than two years, the 31-year-old resident of West End, Tortola, was not informed of any of the allegations. Additionally, she argued that he poses no risk of fleeing and does not require police protection.
However, Crown Prosecutor Beddeau asked the court to refuse bail for Erickson, highlighting the presence of evidence supporting the 20 charges against him, ranging from possessing a prohibited weapon, unlawfully possessing a firearm without a licence, possessing a controlled substance with the intention to distribute, Possessing Cannabis with intent to supply, possession of proceeds from criminal activities and Possession of Forge Currency Notes.
Beddeau revealed that a cell phone confiscated from Erickson while he was at Balsam Ghut also contained evidence of communication between him and murder accused Jose Almestica.
Almestica, who had escaped from prison in 2017 after Hurricane Irma and was recaptured on December 7, 2021, and later charged with the murder of Deverson Williams in addition to similar charges now slapped on Erickson.
Williams was shot multiple times while driving on Fish Bay Road during daylight hours on March 16, 2021.
Erickson’s lawyer further submitted that the police have displayed an element of vindictiveness in the Prosecution objecting to bail, pointing out that other defendants involved in the Almestica cell phone case were granted pretrial liberty.
After a short break, the court was informed that due to the highly sensible nature of further submissions the Prosecution needed to present to support objecting to bail, the court was taken in-camera barring the submissions from going public.
On February 27, Erickson was extradited to the United States Virgin Islands after unsuccessful appeals in the local Court of Appeal and in the United Kingdom Privy Council.
He was charged with conspiracy to launder monetary funds from outside the United States and unlawfully transporting the funds into the United States. After six months in federal custody, prosecutors dismissed the case against him.
On September 20, Erickson was arrested in Road Town by local authorities as he stepped off the ferry from the United States Virgin Islands.
Following a series of arguments that lasted more than an hour, the media was barred from the proceedings due to the Crown Prosecutor’s submission that sensitive information would be disclosed in the court.
Crime/Police
BVI Police Make Strides in Robbery and Property Crime Investigations

A crackdown on violent crime in the British Virgin Islands has led to multiple arrests and the seizure of illegal firearms and ammunition, authorities announced Friday, March 28.
In a series of targeted search operations, police recovered a semi-automatic handgun and dozens of rounds of ammunition, marking a significant step in the fight against armed robberies and property crimes across the territory.
As part of the ongoing investigations, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) conducted a series of search operations on March 25 at five properties linked to suspects in recent armed robberies. Officers recovered a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol and 41 rounds of assorted ammunition.
Authorities detained eight individuals in connection with the raids. Three were released after questioning, while five have been formally charged.
Ernest Jacobs, 59, Prynce Jacobs, 19, and a 16-year-old male, all of Josiah’s Bay, have been charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm and two counts of unlawful possession of explosives. A 14-year-old male of Purcell Estate has been charged with two counts of robbery. Ravie Joseph, 43, of Josiah’s Bay, has been charged with overstaying a landing permit.
The charges stem from separate robbery incidents on Tortola on March 3. Police had previously charged and remanded another minor in connection with the same crimes.
Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool lauded officers for their work and underscored the importance of removing illegal weapons from the streets.
“The removal of illegal firearms and ammunition from our communities is a critical step in reducing the threat of violence and protecting innocent lives,” Vanterpool said in a statement. “To date, a total of nine illegal firearms and more than 300 rounds of ammunition have been recovered as part of our intensified operations. We remain resolute in our mission to disrupt criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.”
Authorities continue to urge residents to come forward with any information that may aid ongoing investigations. Tips can be submitted to the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 800-8477, or internationally at (284) 800-8477.
Crime/Police
Drew Farrell Charged With Manslaughter in Virgin Gorda Stabbing

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) have charged Drew Farrell, 42, of The Valley, Virgin Gorda, in connection with a fatal stabbing that claimed the life of Rasheel Thomas Alexander.
Farrell who remains in police custody is expected to appear before the Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.
The charge follows an ongoing investigation into the stabbing incident, which has drawn significant public attention. Police have not yet disclosed details surrounding the circumstances of the attack.
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to come forward. Tips can be provided to the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 800-8477. International callers can reach Crime Stoppers at (284) 800-8477.
Crime/Police
Oleanvine Maynard Released from U.S. Federal Custody After Serving Less Than Two Years

Oleanvine Maynard, the former director of the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority, was released from federal custody in the United States on Friday, having served just under two years of her nine-year sentence for drug-related offences.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) confirmed that she is no longer listed as “In Custody” but provided no explanation for the March 21 early release.
Maynard, 63, had been serving her sentence at the Baltimore Residential Reentry Management Centre (RRM) following her conviction in June 2023 for her involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy orchestrated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Her son, Kadeem Stephan Maynard, 33, who was convicted alongside her, is also due for release soon—on 6th April. Currently held at the Miami Federal Detention Centre (FDC), Kadeem was sentenced to 57 months but will serve just over two years, having pleaded guilty in 2023.
The mother and son duo had struck a deal with the DEA to secure reduced sentences. However, the exact circumstances surrounding their early release remain unclear.
In the U.S. federal system, sentence reductions are not uncommon and can occur for a variety of reasons, including significant assistance with ongoing investigations or participation in rehabilitative programmes.
The female Maynard was the star witness in the prosecutions’ case against former Premier of the British Virgin Islands, Andrew Alturo Fahie, convicted in February 2024 on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine and money laundering.
Yet, without official confirmation from authorities, the precise nature of Maynard’s release remains speculative.
Meanwhile, Fahie remains incarcerated at Jesup Federal Correctional Institution (FCI). His release date is set for May 30, 2033, and his case continues to attract global attention.
As Oleanvine Maynard prepares to reintegrate into society, public interest turns to what her next steps will be and how her return will be received.
Maynard, her son Kadeem, and ex-Premier Fahie were arrested in April 2022 during a U.S. DEA sting operation in Miami, Florida. The case stemmed from an undercover investigation in which DEA agents, posing as members of the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel, approached the officials with an offer to facilitate the trafficking of thousands of kilograms of cocaine through the British Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland.
Testimony from the agents revealed that Fahie and the Maynards had agreed to assist in the drug shipments in exchange for bribes amounting to millions of dollars. Court documents also disclosed that Oleanvine Maynard was happy to play a central role in the operation, referring to the opportunity as her “blessing.”
The arrests raised serious concerns about government corruption and links to drug trafficking within the territory, a region heavily dependent on tourism.
Oleanvine Maynard’s early release continues to stir debate both within the territory and internationally.
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