In-laws get prison sentence for illegal entry

Brothers-in-law Chevon Russell and Jack Gordon Benjamin, who pleaded guilty to illegal entry, will spend time at Her Majesty’s Prison for the offence.

Russell, who is said to be more culpable than Benjamin, was handed the heavier sentence in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, March 14.

Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards sentenced the 36-year-old Jamaican native to six months imprisonment. She also ordered him to pay a fine of $1,000 by 9am today. Russell will serve an additional two months behind bars if that sum is not paid.

The senior magistrate, on the other hand, sentenced Guyanese native Benjamin to five months in prison.

The men are being represented by attorney Valerie Stephens-Gordon.

The court heard that Russell – who has an estranged wife living in the BVI – invited his brother-in-law to illegally enter the territory to ‘see the place’.

The prosecution claimed that, between January 24 and 25, the two men who reside in St Martin departed that country via boat.

They initially went to Virgin Gorda without reporting to immigration officials.

The court heard that, about 9am on January 26, the police visited Waterfront Drive in Road Town, Tortola, where they saw both men exiting a Speedy’s ferry that operates on the Virgin Gorda to Tortola route.

They were arrested.

Their passports had no BVI immigration stamp or record of their arrival into the territory.

Both men, during individual police interviews, admitted to the offence of illegal entry. They were charged.