On Wednesday 27th January 2016, Cornell Orville Penn, a forty-five (45) year old national of the British Virgin Islands pled guilty in the St. John’s Magistrate court to the charge of failing to declare the transfer of currency in excess of US$10,000 into Antigua and Barbuda contrary to Section 18(1) of the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act. Penn was fined EC$10,000 to be paid forthwith or 2 years in prison and the cash in excess of US$50,000 was forfeited to the state.
Penn was arrested on 6th August 2015 during a joint operation conducted by the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP), ABDF Coast Guard, Customs & Excise Department and the Immigration Department. A search warrant was executed on an apartment occupied by Penn where cash exceeding US$50,000 was found vacuum sealed in a bag.
