Puerto Rican allegedly held with $39K at airport

A Puerto Rican man was allegedly caught attempting to leave the territory via the TB Lettsome International Airport on March 6 with $39,800.

Charged with failing to declare monies to Customs is 45-year-old businessman Alexis Perez.

He did not enter a plea when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards on Tuesday.

Allegations

The court heard that on the day in question, the accused man was found with the cash stashed inside various clothing items in his black duffle bag at the airport.

It is alleged that the first stash of cash was in the sum of $4,300 and was found inside the bag. The second and third stashes — $4,800 and $5,200, respectively — were allegedly found inside two separate pairs of pants.

The sum of $5,500 was alegedly concealed inside another jeans pants, and the final stash of $20,000 was reportedly found inside two white envelopes.

The items were counted, labelled, photographed and sealed in the accused man’s presence, the court heard.

Interview 

The court further heard that members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force conducted an interview with the accused man and he indicated that he is a livestock farmer and was involved in installing horseshoes.

The court heard that the accused took ownership of the money.

He indicated that when he arrived in the territory, he incorrectly filled out the Immigration/Customs declaration form, and was assisted by a young lady at the airport who never asked him if he had cash to declare and he did not inform her either.

However, he said he intended to declare the cash to the authorities. The reason the accused man had the cash was not revealed to the court.

Cash detained

In the meantime, the cash was ordered detained after the Crown made a successful application to the court.

Among reasons given by the Crown was the need to investigate the source of the funds and to learn more about the Puerto Rican background.

The matter was then adjourned to Wednesday because his attorney Stephen Daniels, was before the High Court in another unrelated matter.

The accused was then ordered remanded.