Two British nationals – 30 year old Heather Stoute and 59 year old Ruby Blackwood – who were found guilty of seeking to illegally export 119 pounds of ganja, were given lengthy jail terms when they appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Stoute and Blackwood, both of London, were arrested at the Norman Manley International Airport on January 25, after detectives from the Transnational Crimes and Narcotics Division searched their luggage as they were about to board a Virgin Atlantic flight for London. 85 pounds of compressed ganja was found in Stoute’s two suitcases, while 34 pounds were removed from Blackwood’s suitcase.
They were each sentenced to a mandatory two-year jail term, and in addition to this, Stoute was also sentenced to six months or J$15,000 (US$177) for possession of ganja; six months or J$200,000 (US$2, 362) for dealing in ganja; and J$544,072 (US$6,427) or two years for taking steps to export the drug. Blackwood was also sentenced to six months or $115,000 (US$1,358) for dealing in ganja; and two years or $213,000 (US$2,516) for taking steps to export the drug. She, too, was given six months or $15,000 (US$177) for possession of ganja.
The sentences are to run consecutively.
Mikhail Johnson, a 22-year-old un-employed resident of Palmers Cross, Clarendon, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where he faced charges of possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, taking step to export ganja and conspiracy to export ganja. He was accused of attempting to smuggle 7 1/2 pounds of marijuana (ganja) to St. Maarten. It is alleged that he was arrested at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on September 4, after the drug was found hidden in a false compartment in his suitcase.
Johnson pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was offered bail in the sum of $200,000. However, Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser warned him sternly, that bail would be revoked and he would be taken back into custody if he did not enroll himself at a learning institution and start attending classes. According to the magistrate, Johnson found himself in the situation because he was idle, and he needs to find something (such as school) to occupy his time.
Johnson is scheduled to return to court on November 1, 2010.
Thomas Pearson, a 63 year old pastor of a Stony Hill, St. Andrew address, will appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on April 30 to answer to drug charges. He was reportedly held at the Norman Manley International Airport, with 10 pounds of ganja strapped to his thighs.
According to reports, Pearson faces charges of possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, taking steps to export ganja and conspiracy to export ganja. he was charged jointly with 42 year old Sanguanitti Bryan, who allegedly took Pearson to the airport. The court heard that on April 21, 2010, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Pearson was about to board a flight to Trinidad, when the police noticed an unusual bulge on his thighs. He was searched, and four rectangular-shaped packages were reportedly found strapped to his thighs. Bryan was arrested later that day, after the police had Pearson call him to tell him that he had missed his flight.
Dwight Williams, a 23 year old pan chicken vendor who tried to smuggle 15 pounds of ganja (hidden inside 20 bammies) to the Bahamas, was fined a total of J$135,000 and sentenced to nine months in prison when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday (April 23).
The court heard that on April 19 of this year, Williams was held at the Norman Manley International Airport, after the drug was discovered hidden in the bammies in his luggage. Despite a lengthy plea for lenience by his lawyer in court, he was fined $15,000 or six months in prison for possession of ganja, $48,000 or six months in prison for dealing in ganja and $72,000 or six months in prison for taking steps to export ganja. If the fines are not paid, the sentences will run concurrent but consecutive to the nine month sentence.
A pregnant woman, Erica Gardener, who attempted to leave the island with 11 1/2 pounds of ganja hidden in her brassiere and waist, was sentenced to three months in prison, and fined J$15,000, after she pleaded guilty to drug charges in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court. If the fine is not paid, she will serve an additional six months in prison.
Gardener was arrested at the Norman Manley International Airport on February 6, when she checked in to board a flight destined for Curacao. She was held after the police notice an unusual bulge in her waist. She was searched, and six small packages of ganja were found, while four other small packages were found inside her brasserie.
In addition to the mandatory three month sentence that was handed down, Gardener was fined $2500 or six months in prison – for possession of ganja, $5000 or six months in prison – for dealing in ganja, and $7500 or three months in prison – for attempting to export ganja. If the fines are not paid, the sentences will run concurrently, but consecutive to the mandatory sentence.
In court, Gardener’s lawyer pleaded with the judge to have mercy on his client, who he said was experiencing complications as a result of her pregnancy. The resident magistrate however had no sympathy, and Gardener sentenced.
Rose-Ann Campbell, a 25 year old primary school of Spanish Town in St. Catherine, appeared in the Spanish Town Criminal Court yesterday, where she pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of three ounces of ganja.
It is alleged that on August 27, Campbell went to the Spanish Town police lock-up with a parcel which she said contained a loaf of bread for her cousin who is a prisoner in the jail there. The parcel was searched, and three ounces of ganja were found, wrapped with plastic paper and embedded in the bread. She was arrested and charged.
She pleaded guilty with explanation, stating that her aunt asked her to take it to her son (Campbell’s cousin) at the lock-up, and that she did not know it contained ganja. The Resident Magistrate extended Campbell’s $40,000 bail bond, and adjourned the matter until to October 20 when Caombell will be sentenced. The Resident Magistrate also requested a social enquiry from the probation officer in order to help determine the degree of sentence to be handed down.
