Anguillan hotelier deported after early release from prison
Anguillan hotelier Kirk Hughes has been deported from the British Virgin Islands after serving time at Her Majesty’s Prison for Immigration and financial-related crimes in the territory.
In a deportation order dated February 22, Hughes was described as “a person whose presence in the territory would be — in the opinion of the governor, acting after consultation with the Chief Immigration Officer — undesirable and not conducive to the public good”.
The order was issued by Deputy Governor David Archer, Jr while he was acting governor
According to Section 40 of the Immigration and Passport Ordinance, if a non-Belonger is convicted of an offence that is punishable with imprisonment of three months or more, the governor may make an order requiring the person to leave the territory.
The Anguillian businessman was fined $56,000 and sentenced to serve a little more than a year in prison back in October. He only served a fraction of that prison sentence.
Hughes’ crimes
Local law enforcers caught up to Hughes because he was named as an accomplice in smuggling six Hispanic migrants in the territory between August and September of last year.
Hughes was also caught with more than $45,000 spread across three rental properties on Tortola and inside his vehicle. He was subsequently arrested and charged with overstaying, failing to declare monies to Customs, and possession of proceeds of criminal conduct.
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I find it interesting that so many people are described as ” businessman” so readily in this neck of the woods. It appears it does not take much to qualify as one; the qualifications appears quite low.
Maybe I am a business person and don’t realize it. I should start introducing myself as such.
Now, one has to wonder what kind of “businessman” would be involved in human trafficking? Clearly, not a legitimate one if the accusations against this guy were indeed true.
When this story first appeared in the news last year, it was noted that this man was the proprietor of some hotel in Anguilla.
How does one go from being a proprietor of a hotel to alleged involvement in trafficking humans? Was his hotel doing well or was it slow season? Something does not add up here. He was either greedy or his “businessman” credentials were not as stated but rather paper thin.
Anyway, he is a gonna. The only thing clear to me about this case centers about his appearance.
Looking at pictures of this guy, it appears he has never skipped a meal. He is a cornmeal dumpling eater. In that respect, whatever business he was engaged in must have been quite good.
To Reply….For your information!! You do NOT know this GUY so hush your A##. First off: he was not charged or sentenced for human trafficking. He does not OWN a boat nor a plane neither is he a boat captain or an airplane pilot. He was never charged for bringing into the BVI any “Human” through the byways and neither did he enter through the byways. if you read his sentencing you would clearly note what he was sentenced for. Human trafficking was alleged by whomever, not the courts. On another note, YES he is a businessman and has always been a successful businessman. Yes he is a hotelier and has other visible business entities. you wont know because you don’t know him. One of the things he isn’t is greedy. Before you carry on with your stupid nonsense, you should carry out your in investigation about him and your assumption and stupid remarks would blow in the wind. His appearance is just fine. stand and let someone put your hands behind your back and you will see the effect it has on your top clothing. However, that don’t really matter. He eats and sleeps well. Always has and always will, so no one has to worry about that or him. we all do sh** when we are ready, some get caught others are lucky but it does not stop an individual from progressing. When are you opening your business??
I dont knpw you the hentleman or the peron you are responding to.
My only cpmment on his case is that of you are not a belonger and you commit a crime you should be deported and any assets you have in the territory should be forfeited.
The previous comment that drew your ire should not have mentioned his appearance as it is totally irrelevant to his cause of deportation.
My goodness. You tore me another hole didn’t you? You jumped on me like a wasp, and stung the hell out of me. I don’t deserve such treatment. I am so hurt by your harsh words, I feel like crawling into a hole and dying.
Not!
What happened? Did I step on your well manicured toes? You seem to know him pretty well. This is personal for you..isn’t it?.
Get over it. Calm down, I understand. You want to defend your friend to a stranger. It’s ok. I understand birds of a feather flock together. Flock on.
You got to be an a**hole. Yes I agree with the person who put you in your d**n place. You just jump and make assumptions don’t you think that’s unfair to him? F*****g m*********t
Lol. Im going to assume you are a very angry and defensive person. For all the noise you guys are making, Mr Hughes still stands convicted and stamped deported in his passport. Fact.
Where were you in the courthouse when he was being prosecuted? Sounds like he could have used your rabid defense of him. Some friend.
I understand your misdirected anger. I am not move an inch by it at all. You are mad at the wrong person. You should redirect your anger towards the BVI judicical system.
Curse some more if it makes you feel better. I stand by my remark.The basic facts remain unchanged.
Is dis the girl that was up HMP every week? Sound like you taking this personal man don’t worry case done. But @Reply you outta order to talk bout da man ain skippin meal. With that money I wasnt skipping none either. #lifegood #eatgood
deport the action man too
lol. Petty
So in the BVI, it is a crime to be in possession of monies in excess of $45,000 if you are merely visiting the island… Not neglecting to note the fact that you are an obvious business owner in the industry of tourism (hotel) which I assume has been more fertile in Anguilla than it is in the BVI. Just to be CLEAR. Furthermore, if this man was an accomplice in human trafficking or smuggling, then why wasn’t he charged with it? And how can you fail to declare monies found at your property and not at a port of entry? Also what was the criminal conduct that the money proceeded from?
Either this news article is deserting information about this case and leaving readers to be misconstrued or one should refrain from visiting the BVI and spending money there.
Nothing about this makes much sense other than the Government’s treasury received a top up!
Thank you!
If the hotel business is so fertile in Anguilla ‘so much so’ than the BVI, why was he here? Why Top Up the Government’s treasury in another man’s country? You’ll are pure evil, you’ll posting these comments in the BVI and top up the BVI’s treasury and would not go home and do the same in your own country Why? Pure jealousy and bad mindedness.
The definition of business man according to the Oxford Dictionary is: A man or woman who is engaged in trade or commerce. He is therefore a business man according to this. Smuggling human is a trade (be it legal or Illegal). He provides a service and he gets paid for it
You are a lunatic!!
This is not news this ia History patner left over 2 weeks ago
So in the BVI, it is a crime to be in possession of monies in excess of $45,000 if you are merely visiting the island… Not neglecting to note the fact that you are an obvious business owner in the industry of tourism (hotel) which I assume has been more fertile in Anguilla than it is in the BVI. Just to be CLEAR. Furthermore, if this man was an accomplice in human trafficking or smuggling, then why wasn’t he charged with it? And how can you fail to declare monies found at your property and not at a port of entry? Also what was the criminal conduct that the money proceeded from?
Either this news article is deserting information about this case and leaving readers to be misconstrued or one should refrain from visiting the BVI and spending money there.
Nothing about this makes sense other than the Government’s treasury received a top up!
“Hughes was further sentenced to another eight months imprisonment for the $45,831 that he admitted was the proceeds of crime.”
———————————————–
That’s a quote from a previous article cited in this report. Apparently, Mr. Hughes did admit that money was from the proceeds of crime. That came out of his own mouth.
It was not a matter of him “being in possession of monies in excess of $45,000 if you are merely visiting the island”.
The law in this region is that any money in excess of $10,000 must be declared upon entry to a country. If you travel to the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. similar requirements are in place by boarder control. It’s part of governments anti-money laundering laws. Anyone who travels often and has to fill out a customs form knows this.
I must admit that when I first read the case, I found it to be questionable as well. I wasn’t certain if he was being picked up on bogus charges or not, but then he went into court and apparently hung himself leading him down this road.
Now, to my critic above, “Reply2” who asked: “When are you opening your business? Let me say to him/her, my business is already opened and I have been doing business since 1980.
Business has and is good; it has all been legal and legit. No illegalities against my name or record personal or business.
Definitely nothing relative to my being in possession of proceeds from criminal conduct or suspicion of involvement in human trafficking.
Plead guilty thanks to his incompetent lawyer, and you know what based on my research Hughes is f….ing better off than me so let me put it to rest. VIVA MR HUGHES ,A man with a good heart this much I can say
In this case it seems admittance was equivalent to pleading guilty, so yea, he did hang himself by pleading guilty which I am sure was at the advice of his lawyer. But the case is still very much flawed. Were the criminal activities conducted in the BVI? So again, WHY was he charged with failing to declare the monies when he entered the BVI if it were already proceeds of criminal activity? And knowing how incompetent the BVI law enforcers can be, they gave a man a proceeds with criminal activity charge with no proof of the said criminal activity to lay a further charge. He should have just kept his mouth shut because he would have gone home with an overstaying charge and the petty fine that comes with that.
This man look like he just pleaded guilty to whatever charge they put to him to get it over and done with. Clearly he didn’t take in to consideration the seriousness of the charges laid because I’m pretty sure as a businessman (yes, I looked him up), that amount of money was next to nothing for him to have.
Finally somebody have some common sense , the biggest misgake was retaining a lawyer like the one he had SHAME on him , should go back to law school
Pure f*****y. Glad he is home
Welcome home Uncle Kirk! #anguilla4life
Hello Anguillan. How’s life on Anguilla?
Well well look at comments
When you don’t hand the brown envelope this is how the story ends!
All bvi police dose is comment BS on people but they don’t know who they wife and husband s******g……. The police department is corrupt when they don’t get paid they force raids and tamper with evidence more time money…… Quick to pick on a local person child or person and paint them bad while they friends from other countries dose wrong right in front our eyes… They think S**** and his crew was the last what abou the vincy crew in police station what’s help drugs into the bvi n make sure they don’t get bus but they run dogs tru ppl house because a paid imformatant says this or that guy have stuff while they sell the most drugs in heart of the TOWN ………………….
Long story short he a criminal. Second time in jail. First time was for d—g tr——- in the states (G—TY) served years for that offence. Now this whether a business man or a good man long story short he ass been in jail proven guilty more than once. Hey over it he’s a criminal!
you know quite a lot. though you were his friend. how many wives he has? how many children? how much money? how many lives? where he sleeps? how he sleeps? what does he wear and drive? how much money you borrowed realist??
I wonder where he will be running to next. He can run but can’t hide.
Like really? You sound like a hater
GTFOH
Don’t wonder, it is not your blasted business where he goes, lives or dies. But run? you got to be a fool for true.
You sound like a hater…like really?
GTFOH
British Dependent Territorial Citizen deported from another British Dependent Territory, LOL!