UPDATE: No extradition for five men in alleged drug ring!
Justice Redhead added that “It is not with any pleasure that I arrive with these conclusions, but that is the law."
This decision was made in the High Court, today September 17, 2012.
In regards to the ruling made by Magistrate Valerie Stephens earlier this year, Justice Redhead stated that it was null, void and false
The men involved in the alleged drug ring are Earl ‘Bob’ Hodge, Chad Skelton, Juan Valdez, Roberto Harrigan and Carlston Beazer.
Background
The United States District Court, Southern District of Florida last year had unsealed a jury indictment against 13 persons, including Virgin Islands’ locals, Hodge, Harrigan, Skelton, Beazer and Valdez for allegedly conspiring to import and distribute cocaine in the United States.
It was alleged that the five men were parties to a conspiracy and alleged drug ring to import cocaine from South America into the Virgin Islands for onward shipment to Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and the United States mainland.
While the men face local charges on most of the same accusations the heart of why the United States Government/law enforcement wants the five men is because according to the US, most of the drugs would have ended up in the United States. The drug rings allegedly began sometime in 1998 until September 29, 2010.
In the appeal case before Justice Readhead three of the defendants have United Kingdom attorneys. Lord Kenneth Macdonald, QC was Skelton's lead counsel along with his initial lawyer, Tana'ania Small-Davis from Frara & Kerins; Harrigan's lead counsel was Edward Fitzgerald, QC along with his initial lawyer, Patrick Thompson; and Julian Knowles, QC for Hodge. Mr. Beazer's lawyer remained the same Mr. Richard Rowe and Valdez is represented by Attorney Stephen Daniels.
On March 13, 2012, Senior Magistrate, Valerie Stephens found sufficient evidence for five alleged drug traffickers to stand trial in the United States for conspiracy to import cocaine to the mainland.
This meant Earl ‘Bob’ Hodge, Chad Skelton, Juan Valdez, Roberto Harrigan and Carlston Beazer are expected to stand trial in the Southern District of Florida and Hodge in the North Carolina District.
The Magistrate in her ruling said, “I find that a prima facie case made out against the men…and I am committing the men to the Her Majesty’s Prison, Balsum Ghut until such time to await the decision of the Governor.”
However, she did inform the men that they have the right to make a habeas corpus application - the right to challenge the terms of their incarceration before a High Court Judge. The men’s lawyers have 15 days to make an appeal.
In expounding her decision, Magistrate Stephens stated in relation to Hodge, the alleged mastermind in the drug ring that spanned for 13 years, that she was satisfied with the witnesses who gave affidavit evidence in identifying him. She also noted that the diplomatic channel regarding the paper work for the extradition request was satisfactory, therefore he can stand trial in North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Hodge, Harrigan, Valdez, Skelton, and Beazer were allegedly identified as co-conspirators by one of their alleged accomplices as well as by Chief Inspector Murray.
Furthermore, the Magistrate ruled that the United States had jurisdiction over the matter since an account was allegedly set up in the US for money transfers, an aircraft was purchased and registered there and the aircraft was used in the drug operation.
She lamented that the aircraft was monitored from South America via a tracking device and was allegedly spotted circling an area off the Virgin Islands. Two vessels were seen in the said location and when police gave chase, Skelton, Beazer and Valdez were apprehended on one of the vessels.
The Magistrate said she also found evidence that Harrigan, a former Customs Officer, allegedly joined the operation by assisting one of the conspirators, a Colombian national, by allowing him entry into the VI.
Valdez allegedly handled money for one of the co-conspirators and Hodge, the Magistrate added.
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71 Responses to “UPDATE: No extradition for five men in alleged drug ring!”
These men will never receive the sentences they so richly deserve for all the injustices, indignities and lawlessness they inflicted upon our community over the years.
The jury pool is rife with their so called friends. The decent, honest people of the BVI have been hung out to dry.
To quote Charles Dickens: “If the law supposes that,” said Mr. Bumble,… “the law is a ass—a idiot. If that’s the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is that his eye may be opened by experience—by experience.”
Who are always on here with his holier than thou BS. Were you there? The LAW IS THE LAW! The USA CANNOT come into our country with their flimsy case talking about extradition. If the men ran drugs in the BVI let them serve time in the BVI. What the hell is wrong with you? Your opinion does not count. If someone steals US currency they don't get deported to the US, they serve time in the jurisdiction where they committed the crime. Not because the US says so means it's so. eat your heart out, our guys will be right here with us like we wanted.
Please SHUT UP...
Morality and justice don't stand a chance against fools who think this phoney loyalty is more important.
I happen to agree that is a good thing the USA can't just step in and expect us to hand over anyone they decide they want. That is one god aspect of this.
But I don't see why convicted drug smugglers who peddle in poisons for cash and carry gun and prepare to use it against anyone who stand in their way, should 'go free' juts because the one of we?
Who the hell are we? Some kind of community of pirates?
And judging by your name, Johnny Cochran, you using the same logic as in the OJ case - if they black/or local, who cares if they murdered a couple of people?
You think these boys should be free, just because they BVIslanders? Why? You think running cocaine for murdering cartels is a good thing for them to do? Good for the BVI?
And what else? You think is good OJ get free even if he murder dem people?
That's what this boil down to. Are people like you just stupid, or are you evil?
FIRST OF ALL IM HAPPY THAT I TOUCHED YOUR NERVE AND YOU NEED TO JUST GET OVER IT AND DO WHATEVER YOU DO BEST WHATEVER THAT IS... SOUNDS LIKE YOU SAW O.J. KILL THOSE PEOPLE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU SAW THESE GUYS WITH DRUGS IN THERE HAND. PEOPLE LIKE YOU MAKE ME SICK CAUSE YOU ACT LIKE YOU KNOW IT ALL AND THEN YOU HIDE BEHIND THE SCENE AN TYPE SHIT... COWARD!!!!
For their sake, they better never get sick and have to go to the U.K., or the U.S. for treatment. They will never see Tortola again in their guilty a$$ lives.