Miami prosecutors have argued former British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie not only broke U.S. law in an alleged cocaine smuggling and money laundering scheme but should also be held accountable for breaking BVI laws.
In court filings posted late Wednesday, prosecutors said Fahie, who has pleaded not guilty, broke BVI laws around importation and distribution of a controlled substance, as well as laws specifically designed to prevent bribery and embezzlement schemes involving the U.S. and the BVI.
Fahie’s team objected, saying with the trial scheduled to start Jan. 8, they hadn’t been given proper advance notice of the intent to include foreign laws.
Prosecutors told the court a careful reading of charging documents from at least May 2022 shows a clear intent to hold Fahie accountable to BVI laws as well.
Fahie and former Ports Authority Director Oleanvine Pickering Maynard were arrested on April 28, 2022, after stepping off a private plane where they allegedly inspected a $700,000 downpayment for helping orchestrate a massive cocaine smuggling conspiracy.
Arrested with Pickering Maynard was an uncharged person identified as R.S only. Fahie’s attorney used a female pronoun referring to R.S. in recent court filings.
Pickering Maynard and her son Kadeem Maynard pleaded guilty in June to single counts of conspiracy to import cocaine. Fahie has maintained his innocence.
