Appeal Court upholds money laundering conviction against ‘Que Pasa’ Gellizeau

The Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal this week in Grenada, upheld the conviction of money launderer Antonio “Que Pasa” Gellizeau.

The Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold Gellizeau’s conviction means that the confiscation application that was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in conjunction with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in relation to a reported $10 million worth of assets for Gellizeau can now move forward.

On April 5, 2008, Gellizeau, Winston Robinson, a 69-year-old seaman of Bermuda and Trinidadian Kent Andrews were arrested and charged with money laundering in connection with the seizure of US$1.73 million found on a yacht called ‘Jotobin’ in Vincentian waters. Andrews was later acquitted.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young, after finding the men guilty on March 9, 2012 referred them to the High Court for sentencing. The men were sentenced to 10 years in prison on July 22, 2013. Gellizeau was also given a similar sentence for concealing the cash, but the sentences are running concurrently.

Gellizeau’s lawyers had applied for a stay of the confiscation application pending the outcome of their appeal. The confiscation application is in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act 2001, under which the men were charged.

At the time of the sentencing, former Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Grenville Williams had said that Gellizeau’s case is the biggest ever money laundering case in the Eastern Caribbean.