Calder man jailed for money laundering

Calder resident Nixon Morgan has been sentenced to two years in jail, following conviction on money laundering charges.{{more}}

According to a press release from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Chief Magistrate Sonya Young, on Monday, September 2, convicted Morgan, a self-employed businessman, for concealing his proceeds of crime, US$39,050 and having in his possession the said property (US$39,050.00) reasonably suspected of being stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Morgan was sentenced to two years on both counts to run concurrently.

Morgan was jointly charged with his former girlfriend Delores Haywood, also of the same address.

She was convicted of concealing US$39,050, the property of Nixon Morgan.

The court fined Haywood $10,000 and she was ordered to pay $1,000 forthwith.

Chief Magistrate Young ordered Haywood to pay the remainder in three months, or in default, one year in jail.

The facts in the matter state that on April 15, 2010, a party of Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) personnel and other police officers executed a search warrant at Haywood’s mother’s home in Georgetown.

During the search, the US$39,050 was found in a dressing table drawer in the bedroom, concealed in a white sock, wrapped with an inner white shopping bag with markings from the British VIrgin Islands and an outer black plastic bag in the bedroom drawer of her house. The money was stacked in four individual bundles secured by a rubber band and was made up of US$50 and $100 notes.

The release said Morgan claimed the money came from a show he promoted in Georgetown, involving Jamaican and local artistes, as well as from his regular business in Georgetown. Morgan alleged that the show, held at “Club Flex” on March 27, 2010, generated about EC$90,000.

Morgan claimed that he converted all the EC currency to US, through several undisclosed persons that came to sell US to him during that period. He further explained that he had in his possession an unknown sum of US currency prior to this, because he was also in the business of buying and selling US currency regularly.

Haywood testified that she had taken the money to her mother’s house as Morgan instructed. She stated she was told by Morgan that the money was US$40,000, which she accepted.

Morgan claimed ownership of the money.

During the trial, the prosecution did not dispute that there was a show and called several witnesses to the stand to speak about this fact.

However, the prosecution, led by crown counsel Sejilla McDowall, who is the local POCA Champion (lawyers from the region specially trained in prosecuting offences under the Proceeds of the Crime Act) and Kozel Creese of the FIU refuted Morgan’s claims that the show had a high profit margin.

Further, it was shown that both Morgan and Haywood had little or no money in their bank accounts and their various business ventures generally were either unsuccessful or non-existent.

Following conviction, the money was forfeited to the Confiscated Assets Fund. However, the prosecution did not apply for confiscation of any assets from Morgan, having been informed by the FIU that there were no substantial realisable assets.

Both accused were represented by counsel Richard Williams of Williams and Williams.

“The Office of the Director of the Public Prosecution of St Vincent and the Grenadines (National Prosecution Service) continues to partner with the FIU, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force and other law enforcement agencies in our quest to conclusively fight crime and the causes of crime. We are wholly committed to anti-money laundering efforts geared to bring to justice, those intent on living beneficially on criminal proceeds,” the release stated.