BVI News

BVI man gets 9-year sentence in US after multimillion cocaine bust

Not the actual drugs mentioned in the story.

Wayne Stout, Jr, the 35-year-old BVI boat captain who was nabbed in June as part of a multi-million dollar drug bust in the United States, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Stout was arrested following a surveillance operation executed by the Department of Homeland Security which involved another man, Avery Lans. 

Lans was convicted after a jury trial on October 3, while Stout pleaded guilty on August 19, 2022. 

Lans, 55, a native of St Thomas in the neighbouring US Virgin Islands (USVI) was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Lans’ sentence was enhanced based on the danger he caused during his attempted escape from law enforcement on June 1, 2022, and his deeper involvement in the conspiracy.

According to evidence presented at trial on June 1, 2022, Stout drove from Miami to Orlando and retrieved a duffle bag from a storage locker in the Edgewater area. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were conducting surveillance on Stout as he travelled from Miami to Orlando and as Stout left the storage locker and went to the parking lot of a restaurant in the Winter Park area. 

When they followed Lans, he began driving erratically which investigators believe was a tactic to evade pursuit. During this pursuit, Lans reportedly tossed the bag he was given by Stout and it was later found to have nearly 12 pounds of cocaine inside. 

A kilogram of the cocaine was estimated to be worth approximately $27,000, at least. Lans was carrying $135,000 worth of cocaine when he unsuccessfully attempted to flee. The storage locker contained nearly $3 million in cocaine. 

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15 Comments

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  1. Feds always watching says:

    Once you in this business you should always believe the feds is watching your every movie….Move like you are being watched….Most time they are actually onto you…

    Like 16
    Dislike 2
  2. Haha says:

    BS, for every 1 that is caught 20 get away.

    Like 2
    Dislike 6
  3. Resident says:

    9 years with a guilty plea; no aggravating factors like public corruption or organisation and supervision of a criminal conspiracy. Stout was a bit player.

    Not looking good for Head Coach or the former director of ports if they get convicted after not guilty pleas.

    Like 22
  4. LOOKS LIKE says:

    His entitlement didn’t WUK ?

    Like 15
    Dislike 4
  5. West says:

    Dude done did twenty something years now sentence to 20 more at 55 years old wow

  6. saving grace says:

    his guilty plea cut his sentence

  7. Thanks says:

    Next is the Drew
    🙂

    Like 15
  8. Stay fit says:

    He just need to keep fit and eat healthy, read a lot, manage stress and pray and he should in good shape when he reach back at 75.

  9. Next says:

    Tell us what’s next ?no news …plenty hiding behind the scenes

  10. Gadaman. says:

    If the FEDS or DEA isn’t your partners in the drug game don’t sell drugs. They don’t like competition. It’s really that simple.

    Like 6
    Dislike 2
  11. HonestTruth says:

    Nine years in criminal college, when he gets out he will have a diploma and a book full of contacts.

  12. Yes sah says:

    All the reason why ‘they’ still working on trying to get these direct ✈️ from Miami to BVI.
    Cuz in law. God ain’t ?

  13. 9 months says:

    A prison year is 9 months. So 9 years he’ll end up serving 6-7 years.

  14. Thewatcher says:

    He got off light for the amount of weight he was in possession of. The feds aren’t that bad and with a clean record he will most likely end up in a low security camp and do easy time. Hold your head high Wayne!

  15. 9 years says:

    he has a new job…..

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