WEST INDIES OIL COMPANY, ANOTHER ENTITY NAMED IN THE (ANTIGUA PRIME MINISTER) GASTON BROWNE CORRUPTION SDNY DISCOVERY CASE, INTERVENES TO BLOCK THE RELEASE OF DATA INCRIMINATING BROWNE

With this Caribbean entity having joined the rogues' gallery of companies and PEPs attempting to block the claimant's access to U.S. bank account information that could show where Browne allegedly hid a significant portion of the sale proceeds and/or commission on what is reportedly the illegal sale of a multi-million dollar yacht seized and sold by Antigua without the legal authority to do so. The Declaration previously filed in this case alleges that Browne is the beneficial owner of shares of WIOC, and has a significant interest in the company.

PM Gaston Browne

Why is this case important? If the claimant is ultimately successful in acquiring bank records, it could expose not only Browne's role in the yacht scandal, but his receipt and subsequent deposit into US accounts of bribes and kickbacks in a wide variety of subjects, that confer jurisdiction for violations of the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and other Federal criminal statutes.

We shall continue to follow and report on all major unfolding developments in this case, which we believe is of great public interest to the American compliance community.