Fahie gets 11-year sentence for drug conspiracy
Former Premier Andrew Fahie was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment in a Miami court today for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States through Virgin Islands waters.
US District Court Judge Kathleen Williams described Fahie’s actions as an attempt to turn the British Virgin Islands into a narco-trafficking hub.
Despite his involvement in a sting operation orchestrated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Fahie has maintained his innocence, arguing that no actual drugs were involved, only a fantasy constructed by the authorities.
During the sentencing, the judge acknowledged Fahie’s past contributions to his community, including helping individuals pursue higher education. However, she emphasized the severity of his crimes and the betrayal of public trust they represented. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gerarde pushed for a 19-year sentence, citing the serious nature of the offense and Fahie’s alleged leadership role in the conspiracy. Fahie’s co-conspirators, Oleanvine Maynard and her son Kadeem, received sentences of nine and nearly five years, respectively.
Fahie’s defense attorney, Richard Della Fera, highlighted his client’s positive activities while incarcerated, such as mentoring other inmates and teaching. Della Fera argued for a minimum sentence, noting Fahie’s consistent record of public service and character references from his family and community members.
Fahie plans to appeal the conviction, with his legal team pointing to alleged errors during the trial, including issues with the confidential informant and the jury’s unanimity. As he begins his sentence, Fahie remains in the Federal Detention Center in Miami, awaiting the outcome of his appeal
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
wow i thought he would get 20 at least, that lawyer is worth the money
He has clearly given names for a reduced time. What h this space
There will be some nervous Colombians and former BVI government officials tonight.
What a joke. He WAS the name. There isn’t anyone above him. The US govt wanted to give him life. He bought his way off with an expensive lawyer, plain and simple.
Not sure that is the case. US prisons are pretty full, so they keep that in mind. My fear is he tries to re-enter BVI politics.
He will, and they’ll vote for him.
the people down here are fools and very corrupt they will welcome andrew back with a parade
That’s exactly right. I expect to see him in CSC matter, giving evidence
@ Lucky Man
If he gave names then why appeal? If you are making a deal with the Feds then a component of that deal would be no -appeal don’t you think?
At Lucky man..who the hell tell you he was giving names
US Govt figured he’d eat 20 years worth of meals in 11 years.
I don’t understand why you call it a “cocaine scandal” when it’s a lot worse than a scandal.
It’s a very bad crime committed by an elected person.
I expected the disgraced former Premier to get around the mandatory minimum of 10 years. He got 11.
This was my prediction when the prospect of him getting life in prison was being discussed on this forum on May 3, 2022. In response to the question of whether or not he will get life, I stated then:
————————————————-
Highly unlikely.
May 3, 2022 at 10:01 AM
As a first time offense, its unlikely the disgraced Premier will face life imprisonment.
He is more likely to serve if convicted a 10 year minimum.
————————————————–
Should he had pled prior to any trial, he most likely would have gotten a sentence similar to what the former ports director did.
There is always that risk going to trial that you will be found guilty resulting in a longer prison sentence. Head Coach rolled the dice, and he lost.
He has been in federal custody now for at least a few years, so he has 9 years more to go. With good behavior, which I think he will be a model prisoner, he will perhaps get a little time reduction.
He could have been out about the same time as the Maynard’s with a plea but unlike Ms Maynard, he did not take accountability for his actions, and bold headedly proceeded with trial.
As for his appeal, imo that will be a tall order, and will take years. However, he is in his right to to so.
There are others like him who needs to face consequences for their own illicit action that has damaged this country. Specifically, those who have facilities not only drugs to flow into this country but guns as well.
I predict their day is coming too. The feds are watching and anxiously waiting. Meanwhile, carry on if you may.
The UK and DEA sat a trap, and 3 greedy blind mice walked willing right into it. Checkmate!
Let this be a lesson to all those who wish to follow or are currently following in Head Coach’s footstep and are destroying the fabric of this once peaceful country for your own greed watch your backs.
To those who enabled him or were aware of his activities, watch your backs too. Don’t be surprised when law enforcement breaks down the front door to your house 3 o’clock in the morning.
Never to late to get out of the drug, gun, and human trafficking business. Get out if you can before its too late because the consequences are two: death or a prison cell. The choice is yours.
Happy emancipation day to all.
Think they read the wrong letters. He would be well advised not to appeal this though. He could be back home running the country in 5 years. Way it looks, VI people would still vote for him. Best leave his picture up. Convicted criminal that he is our current leaders and seemingly some other highly educated fools look to corruption as something to look up to.
No parole in federal system. 11 is 11.
For goodness sake when will people realize he is a scam bay, take the picture down. He lied to his people, he was willing to take dirty money to build his new home, 10 years is a joke. Andrew don’t drop the soap for this
11 yearsss with big bruce in Yuh bed
This is a Win for the real bvi people who cares about their country.
Not those fake bvi people who try to support corruption and continued wrong doings!
What will the leader say about this? Will he separate himself from the former vip leader?
What of the picture now? It’s better we take it down.
Britain has to take overrestore the BVI image and decency to the world. So The BVI can again be trusted to the world and investors.
Britain need to restore it now image first.
With that amount of years, it doesn’t change the fact that he will be a deportee and that he will return to the BVI to be prosecuted locally for the crimes that he committed. The US know what they are doing.
He really deserved life in prison for his role in drug smuggling and money laundering that had led to the murder of many of our citizens. Our only hope now is that he lives out this 11 year sentence to be prosecuted at home upon his return. This man should never see life outside of a cell again. Let’s just pray that our corrupt officials do the right thing by our people.
Assuming this convicted criminal survives his 11 years incarceration there is still the possibility that the UK may want to bring him to London for some prison time, further interrogation and more indictable charges.
Agree in part. Surely the UK can try to get a piece of him, but I believe they are satisfied with the outcome where they are right now.
No doubt who all were involved with him has already been revealed in the US court. I don’t see any additional value in having him taken to the UK for further punishment.
What should be more important in my view are local charges. This cannot be swept under the rug. We cannot and should never as a country support this in anyway. The rule of law has to be upheld at every cost. Even if they charge him locally and it does not amount to much, it should be done.
The message has to be sent that no one in the BVI is above the law, and this is unacceptable behavior.
You break the laws of the land, be prepared to deal with the fallout.
THE MOST APPROPRIATE REASON TO REMOVE THE PIC ON THE WALL IN OUR HONOURABLE HOUSE!!
you stupid and uneducated british virgin islanders look what you have done to destroy the british virgin islands. the entire territory has been destroyed by drugs and guns and crime. no wonder the british/uk government politicians do not want to work along with the territory of the british virgin islands any longer. since 1950 whatever our ancestors fought long and hard for has now been totally destroyed and ruined. look at the condition of the british virgin islands legislative council chambers from 1940/1950 compared to what it is today in 2024. our ancestor knew better to stand up and create a territory for british virgin islands to be able to live and to survive and sustain ourselves in our territory with a peaceful agreement with the united kingdom and now everything that the founding members of the british virgin islands legislative council chambers stood up and fought hard for to maintain has been all thrown away and ruined and destroyed.
look at your stupid and ignorant and uneducated self. do you think that mr theodolph faulkner and mr isaac fonseca and mr carlton decastro would shame down the british virgin islands legislative council chambers in the british virgin islands? do you think they would shame down their own territory and their own people? they would stand up and fight hard to survive and to sustain life in our territory and to have equal rights and justice and human rights for everyone in the british virgin islands. do you think they would destroy the british virgin islands with drugs and guns and crime? everything that our legislators stood up for and fought hard to maintain ignorant and uneducated and stupid people come along and throw everything away and destroy and ruin everything that our former legislators worked very hard for.
A BLACK TiE WITH SCARLET TRIMMINGS
by Tafari Zharr
I’m Grabbing My Rusty Garb – A black tie with rusty scarlet trimmings because I Gotta Stay Humble!
Andrew Arturo Fahie will always be a hero of his people Regardless of Titles Of Valor stripped from his recent career and as we follow the tale it’s heartbreaking as we are witnessing our own A Political Giant as he’s Preparing to be booked having been He’s Bought To His Knees in a foreign land in a money laundering, drug trafficking scheme amidst political conspiracies and UK threat of rule. Unbelievable!
As Mr Fahie Trades Suit For Fed-Fashion sadly he joins the 2024 list of foreign prisoners who fall because of allegedly wanting it all. “Daddy of the Mack daddy” sticks out from the dancehall platinum hit Nah Nah NaNa Nah!
Today our territory is in public mourning of a different kind of death. Yesterday, August 5, 2024 conversely, at our dinner tables – we paused with the pregnancy of silence at the news That our ousted premier had finally been sentenced eleven in the pen at the eleventh hour of our reform prime – ironically Fahie, now one primer removed would have known what to do!
I barely slept through the night and no dream came through the dusk to make sure my mind would rest- I remembered how he carried himself- walking with the surety, to his side, swinging his arms proudly as a Westside man carries his weight. I had a few seconds to feel sorrow and disturb aside from the upbeat tone as I listened to “here comes the hotstepper” right before it hit me today was Sentencing Day.
As I whimpered into wee-morning sleep I turned towards what seemed like laughter – but no one was there- I wondered curiously about the lyrics. Meandering thoughts of how he would accept the terms, the confinement, the conclusion and criticisms, whether he agreed or even not so and I felt in my soul that painful regret mixed with total sadness and embarrassment that only could’ve been avoided by him suppressing the anguish, the unheard, unpleasant reaction to cry but forced to accept even a forced smile might just convey that Andrew Arturo Fahie embodied strength and courage for the dignity of his spouse, his children, his family, his childhood friends, his political peers and the entire community he loved and impacted before he stepped out on a limb and appeased the enemy. As I write this I hear the laughter of the resistance- and I do not care. Be careful of the stones you throw dear. There but for the Grace of God go I!
Andrew, the betrayal is real on both sides! You have to understand it is what it is in survival of the fittest!
And even as fresh us the news , as much and as long as we have been waiting – we understand we can become stuck on this because of what is coming, and many are gone, but we have to ease into our wits about us and focus- “steadfast wisdom together”neither wishful thinking nor weak, not appeasing “the wrong” anymore.
We have just had our summer of freedom rings reflecting the perilous points of slavery but now as we push through the political rhetoric of reformation we only have a few more remaining traditions within the framework of preservation that I urge us to keep the spirit alive until peace understand destiny!
Some of the graceless might be perturbed that we got to this place – the truth is Andrew you did not get here alone. You hypocrites with your pious words and charitable deeds – you dress up and swear on books not stopping at ignorance but ignoring
what’s best for the territory.
No doubt by chance this famous 233 hymnal blows in the wind of change – we know this one “Where were you when they crucified my lord? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when he rose up from the dead? Oh! Sometimes it caused me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
But today I feel like shouting ‘Glory, glory, glory!’
Today we adorn the day hours after his sentencing- and I wonder if Andrew’s Plea Against Doing Life Should Reverberate At Our Cardinal Shores as a tale of shameless boldness with two Lessons: 1) against “ coddling the enemy “ and 2) against “ falling prey to a priceless evil neither of which will save him from doing anything but a little time.
We’ll Pardon Him, in time but for now We should not Re litigate Tórtola’s Promise Publicly but We too must Turn The Page For progress to occur- but we do not turn from those that fall – a stretch hand open reaching backwards.
So Andrew if you don’t like the song – just find a part you can vibe to. Here’s the lyrics in case you forgot. Or stick with Hymns 233!
“Extraordinary, juice like a strawberry, money to burn baby, all of the time, cut to fit is me,fit to cut is she, come juggle with me, I say every time , here comes the hot stepper, I’m the lyrical gangster, dial emergency number, still love you like that, Nah na na na Nah, na na na Nah, na na na Nah, na na na Nah, na na na Nah
“Here Comes the Hotstepper” is a song co-written and recorded by Ini Kamoze Jamaican artist.
Andrew- Still Love You Like That! Echoes into the day – many of us are left conflicted – as relates to questions like human error(s) what matters is that you know you are still blessed beyond bliss!
(c) 2024. Tafari Zharr. All rights reserved.
A BLACK TiE WITH SCARLET TRIMMINGS
by Tafari Zharr
I’m Grabbing My Rusty Garb – A black tie with rusty scarlet trimmings because I Gotta Stay Humble!
Andrew Arturo Fahie will always be a hero of his people Regardless of Titles Of Valor stripped from his recent career and as we follow the tale it’s heartbreaking as we are witnessing our own A Political Giant as he’s Preparing to be booked having been Bought To His Knees in a foreign land in a money laundering, drug trafficking scheme amidst political conspiracies and UK threat of rule. Unbelievable!
As Mr Fahie Trades Suit For Fed-Fashion sadly he joins the 2024 list of foreign prisoners who fall because of allegedly wanting it all. “Daddy of the Mack daddy” sticks out from the dancehall platinum hit Nah Nah NaNa Nah!
Today our territory is in public mourning of a different kind of death. Yesterday, August 5, 2024 conversely, at our dinner tables – we paused with the pregnancy of silence at the news That our ousted premier had finally been sentenced eleven in the pen at the eleventh hour of our reform prime – ironically Fahie, now one primer removed would have known what to do!
I barely slept through the night and no dream came through the dusk to make sure my mind would rest- I remembered how he carried himself- walking with the surety, to his side, swinging his arms proudly as a Westside man carries his weight. I had a few seconds to feel sorrow and disturbance aside from the upbeat tone as I listened to “here comes the hotstepper” right before it hit me today was Sentencing Day.
As I whimpered into wee-morning sleep I turned towards what seemed like laughter – but no one was there- I wondered curiously about the lyrics. Meandering thoughts of how he would accept the terms, the confinement, the conclusion and criticisms, whether he agreed or even not so and I felt in my soul that painful regret mixed with total sadness and embarrassment that only could’ve been avoided by him suppressing the anguish, the unheard, unpleasant reaction to cry but forced to accept even a forced smile might just convey that Andrew Arturo Fahie embodied strength and courage for the dignity of his spouse, his children, his family, his childhood friends, his political peers and the entire community he loved and impacted before he stepped out on a limb and appeased the enemy. As I write this I hear the laughter of the resistance- and I do not care. Be careful of the stones you throw dear. There but for the Grace of God go I!
Andrew, the betrayal is real on both sides! You have to understand it is what it is in survival of the fittest! And even as fresh us the news , as much and as long as we have been waiting – we understand we can’t become stuck on this because of what is coming, and many are gone, but we have to ease into our wits about us and focus- “steadfast wisdom together”neither wishful thinking nor weak, not appeasing “the wrong” anymore.
We have just had our summer of freedom rings reflecting the perilous points of slavery but now as we push through the political rhetoric of reformation we only have a few more remaining traditions within the framework of preservation that I urge us to keep the spirit alive until peace understand destiny!
Some of the graceless might be perturbed that we got to this place – the truth is Andrew you did not get here alone. You hypocrites with your pious words and charitable deeds – you dress up and swear on books not stopping at ignorance but ignoring
what’s best for the territory.
No doubt by chance this famous 233 hymnal blows in the wind of change – we know this one “Where were you when they crucified my lord? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when he rose up from the dead? Oh! Sometimes it caused me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
But today I feel like shouting ‘Glory, glory, glory!’
Today we adorn the day hours after his sentencing- and I wonder if Andrew’s Plea Against Doing Life Should Reverberate At Our Cardinal Shores as a tale of shameless boldness with two Lessons: 1) against “ coddling the enemy “ and 2) against “ falling prey to a priceless evil neither of which will save him from doing anything but a little time.
We’ll Pardon Him, in time but for now We should not Re litigate Tórtola’s Promise Publicly but We too must Turn The Page For progress to occur- but we do not turn from those that fall – a stretch hand open reaching backwards.
So Andrew if you don’t like the song – just find a part you can vibe to. Here’s the lyrics in case you forgot. Or stick with Hymns 233!
“Extraordinary, juice like a strawberry, money to burn baby, all of the time, cut to fit is me,fit to cut is she, come juggle with me, I say every time , here comes the hot stepper, I’m the lyrical gangster, dial emergency number, still love you like that, Nah na na na Nah, na na na Nah, na na na Nah, na na na Nah, na na na Nah
“Here Comes the Hotstepper” is a song co-written and recorded by Ini Kamoze Jamaican artist.
Andrew- Still Love You Like That! Echoes into the day – many of us are left conflicted – as relates to questions like human error(s) what matters is that you know you are still blessed beyond bliss!
(c) 2024. Tafari Zharr. All rights reserved.
This is such a sad day for the BVI. A day when the island is in full force celebrating its emancipation, its freedom. Here is it that our former premier is faced the arm of the law in a conspiracy charge and sentenced to a federal prison in the USA. There is no celebration in this as this is a slap in the face of the people of the BVI. I hope we as a country can raise up after this. Time for a changed BVI!
He got off easier than the fat lady that pleaded guilty and testified against him. She got 9 years plus 5 years supervision once released. The judge is not stupid. They realized that the head honcho was the fat lady that sang and her ugly son
Its disgraceful his picture on the wall it should be taken off immediately. He has yet to answer for things in the Commission of Inquiry. By only getting 11 years has he done a deal? The US have the right to confiscate his houses if they were bought from proceeds of his crimes.