One Venezuelan claims gun, another admits he’s the drug dealer

Two of the three Venezuelan men who were jointly charged with possession of an illegal firearm and a large quantity of cocaine have each pleaded guilty to the respective charges.

Appearing before Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin via a virtual hearing on October 12 was the accused trio of Franklin Jose Garcia Ramirez, Iglesio Pineda Moises Gonzalez, and Luis Hector Gonzalez.

All three men were jointly charged alongside pregnant 32-year-old Jessica Faronas Farinas, but her matter was adjourned until Tuesday, to allow the court to be updated with a missing charge of either overstaying or illegal entry into the territory.

The three males, in the meantime, are accused of possession of 124.36 kilos of cocaine, possession of the drugs with the intent to supply, and possession of an illegal nine-millimetre handgun.

Moises-Gonzalez was the only one among the three men to plead guilty to both possession of the drugs and possession with the intent to supply.

For the possession of an illegal nine-millimetre handgun, Hector-Gonzalez was the sole person among the accused men to plead guilty.

However, all three men who were all represented by defence attorney Stephen Daniels pleaded guilty to the offence of illegal entry into the British Virgin Islands.

Prosecuting attorney Kael London informed Magistrate Benjamin that the Crown will not be presenting evidence for the ‘not guilty’ pleas.

This means that the charges brought against those who pleaded ‘not guilty’ will now be dismissed.

The offenders will be sentenced on November 9.

READ: How they were apprehended

Also READ: Two Venezuelans fined for overstaying