UPDATE: Two witnesses called in alleged drug traffickers’ extradition hearing
Earl ‘Bob’ Hodge, Chad Skelton, Juan Valdez, Carlston Beazer and Roberto Harrigan are jointly charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and are wanted in the Southern District of Florida to face narco-trafficking charges.
Meanwhile, a request from the North Carolina District is seeking the extradition of Hodge to face conspiracy to import cocaine in that jurisdiction.
First up on the stand was Ms. Evans, head of the Governor’s Office, and was examined by former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Terrance Williams about her knowledge of the correspondence between the US Embassy and the Governor’s Office.
According to her, she received diplomatic notes indicating the US’s intention to have the men extradited. Evans also revealed that Governor Boyd McCleary sought the legal advice of the Virgin Islands’ Attorney General Office and the Foreign Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom (UK) before signing the necessary documents for the hearing to commence.
She was cross examined by Julian Knowles, QC and Patrick Thompson on Governor McCleary's asking for advice from the AG or FCO, to which Evans replied that he would have.
Knowles and Herbert McKenzie are representing Hodge, Beazer is represented by Richard Rowe; Tana'ania Small-Davis is representing Skelton; Harrigan by Thompson and Valdez has secured the services of Daniels.
Williams and Crown Counsel Valston Graham appear for the Crown.
Furthermore, Chief Inspector Murray, who is currently on the stand, revealed that on September 3, 2011 he saw Bob Hodge at the Magistrate’s Court and give him a copy of the provisional warrant.
Since their arrest on August 24, 2011 at their respective homes, Hodge, Skelton, Beazer and Harrigan have captivated the Territory with their alleged shenanigans in evading the law in their drug operation that first caught the attention of law enforcement officers in 1998.
Apart from the conspiracy offence, the quartet is charged with conspiracy to import a controlled drug, while Hodge is also charged with the unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm, unlawful possession of explosives, one count of acquisition and possession of used proceeds of criminal conduct. In addition to that, he is facing four counts of being in possession of cocaine with the intent to supply and four counts of importation of cocaine.
Harrigan, a Customs Officer, is facing two counts of abuse of authority in facilitating the entry of persons for illegal purposes into the Territory, one count of acquisition and possession of used proceeds of criminal conduct and one count of criminal proceeds, and bribery by a public officer.
Additionally, Skelton and Beazer are both charged with one count of acquisition and possession of used proceeds of criminal conduct, four counts of being in possession of cocaine with the intent to supply and four counts of importation of the controlled drug respectively.However, these charges are pending.
During a court hearing on August 27, 2011, Crown Counsel Valston Graham told the court that throughout the years Hodge and his alleged accomplices allegedly picked up some 4,518 kilogrammes of cocaine from airdrops in VI waters, with Beazer and Skelton allegedly assisting in the recovery of the illegal substance.
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