Antigua : Local authorities have secured their second money laundering conviction on record following guilty pleas by Venezuelan couple Juan Antonio Gil Diaz, 29, and Andreina Guerra Marin, 20, who had to forfeit over $124,000 to the state yesterday.
The two, along with a third accused, Pedro Johnson, were set to go to trial before Senior Magistrate Asquith Riviere in All Saints court yesterday.
Johnson, represented by defence counsel Ralph Francis, has opted to take his chances at trial that has now been set for December 4. He is accused of facilitation, conspiracy and possession of money for the purposes of money laundering.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Anthony Armstrong dealt with the case along with Crown Counsel Shannon Jones and attorney Curtis Bird.
The facts are that on December 6, 2011, officers from the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) went to a villa in Jolly Harbour where the couple was staying.
During a search the officers found US and Euro currency in several parts of the house to include two toilet tanks, the top shelf of a closet and the handles of a suitcase.
The money was tightly wrapped in plastic, carbon paper and seraphine paper.
The authorities also found a pair of scissors, carbon paper, a disassembled suitcase and scotch tape in the house.
The sums gathered totalled US$20,210 and EURO $19,430.
Under law enforcement caution, the couple said they had no knowledge how the money got there and to whom it belonged. They were then taken into custody.
They were charged with four offences, but two were withdrawn. Convictions under section three of the Money Laundering and Prevention Act were for concealment of money for the purpose of money laundering and having in their possession money for the purposes of money laundering.
The other two charges dropped were conspiracy to commit money laundering and facilitation of money laundering.
They were each convicted and sentenced to 10 months in jail for each count, which amounted to time served on remand.
Immigration officials have since taken them into custody to execute the deportation order granted by the court.
