EX-BVI PREMIER ANDREW FAHIE CONVICTED IN MIAMI FOR MONEY LAUNDERING AND OTHER CHARGES; HE FACES IMPRISONMENT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE

The disgraced former premier of the British Virgin Islands, ANDREW ALTURO FAHIE, was convicted this week, by a jury in U.S. District Court in Miami, on multiple criminal charges which could result in him spending the rest of his life in a Federal Prison in the United States.

Fahie, who stubbornly refused to enter into any plea negotiations, when both of his co-defendants had already done so and were cooperating against him, and where the publicly-available evidence alone was overwhelming, was convicted of: Money Laundering Conspiracy, Attempted Money Laundering, Drug (Cocaine) Conspiracy, and International Travel in Aid of Racketeering. he could serve decades in prison, and never be released, due to his age. Fahie is 53 years old.

The mystery of this case is why he chose to go to trial, where the physical evidence and probable testimony arrayed against him was overwhelming. Whether he feared retribution if he cooperated, given his admitted long relationship with criminals in the sordid Caribbean drug world, or simply thought, in his arrogance, that he would be acquitted, we cannot say, but there have been rumors since his arrest that he has incriminating information regarding other senior East Caribbean government leaders. Will he now seek to monetize that information?

Fahie, who will be sentenced in April 29th, was taken into custody immediately following the jury verdict. He could receive Life in Prison and up to a ten million dollar fine. Since the Sentencing Reform Act was enacted in the United States, there is no Gain Time permitted  for a Life Sentence; he would die in prison if so sentenced. While Life will most likely not be imposed, such a sentence would make a strong statement to the other corrupt leaders of the East Caribbean States.