Anguillan visitor fined $56K, to spend months in prison
Kirk Hughes being escorted from court on a previous occasion.
Anguillan hotelier Kirk Hughes has been fined $56,000 and will spend months at Her Majesty’s Prison for his leading role in a few Immigration and financial-related crimes in the territory.
Hughes was fined $55,000 for failing to declare monies to Customs. If he fails to pay that fine, he will spend six months in prison.
He was slapped with a five-month prison sentence and a $1,000 fine for overstaying in the territory. The offender will serve an additional 30 days at the Balsam Ghut-based penitentiary if he does not pay the fine.
Hughes was further sentenced to another eight months imprisonment for the $45,831 that he admitted was the proceeds of crime.
Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin also ordered that the near-$50,000 sum be forfeited to the territory. The cash and vacuum seal machines that police confiscated from his rented properties on Tortola is also to be forfeited to the BVI.
Hughes’ mandatory prison sentences are to run concurrently (at the same time). But, the default sentences to be imposed if Hughes does not pay his fines will run consecutive (one after the other) to his mandatory prison sentences.
Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin said with the continued reoccurrence of similar crimes in the British Virgin Islands, the tourism industry could be negatively affected.
She said the crimes were serious and, thus, the sentences were suitable to his level of culpability.
What happened
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 this year.
Hughes was also caught with more than $45,000, spread across three rental properties on Tortola and inside of his vehicle. He was subsequently arrested and charged.
Attorney Leroy Jones represented the Anguillan offender.
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The books were thrown at him!
I understood the fool said he got the funds from criminal proceeds… yes !! but what the girl for E—- gave him its harsh but the fool did say he got it from criminal business. He have a lovely 30 bedroom hotel back home. Shame. They only thing is he was local , he would’ve gotten worse!!
he admitted and was charged with proceeds of criminal conduct. The same “fool” did not admit to criminal business. having money in your possession that is not declared is criminal conduct. Yes, she threw the book at him we all have a price to pay for our actions whether known or unknown, good or bad.
boy yuh breast busting that shirt. Get ah trainee na.
why don’t you buy him one seeing that you looking at him
Hands up who is so stupid they need bvinews to tell them what “concurrently” means.
Look how this man mess up himself! SMH
N just like that the government take back the money he would make in tourist season lol so he still loose it for price of his freedom hope he learns
where is mark and lorna to the rescue?