From left to right: Oleanvine Maynard and her son, Kadeem Maynard.
The co-defendants of Andrew Fahie, the former British Virgin Islands Premier currently facing trial in the United States for drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering, are getting ready to plead guilty to the charges against them.
Last week, a change of plea hearing was scheduled for Kadeem Maynard in the Miami Division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, before Judge Kathleen Williams. Then, on Tuesday this week, notice that Oleanvine Maynard would be changing her plea was posted to the court docket. Her hearing is scheduled for the same day as her son’s; hers at 11:00 a.m., his at 2:00 p.m. on June 12.
The mother and son had initially denied allegations that they had been integral players in a plot by Fahie to allow cocaine to flow through the ports of the BVI en route to their final destination on the U.S. mainland. Approached by a confidential source of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Fahie reportedly agreed to accept cash payments in exchange for ensuring that the illicit shipments were not intercepted or disturbed by government officials. Fahie Ms. Maynard’s cut of the deal, according to prosecutors, would have added up to over $8 million for each 3000 kilogram shipment under the bogus proposal made by the DEA’s confidential source.
Ms. Maynard, the former director of Ports in the British territory, was alleged to have been the first person contacted by the DEA. She is reported to have facilitated the meeting with Fahie, who she allegedly described as being “a little crook sometimes.” Her role in the scheme was reportedly to have ensured that the ships could enter BVI waters, dock close to the main port in Tortola for a maximum of 48 hours, and then depart for Puerto Rico and onwards to Miami and New York without being troubled by port officials. Her son Kadeem, who reportedly confided in the DEA source that he was a 20-year veteran of the drug-trafficking trade, is accused of helping to concoct the scheme.
Prosecutors say the three were recorded by the confidential source and other DEA officials agreeing to the plot and fine-tuning details, amongst themselves and the DEA agents. They were also recorded discussing which other BVI government officials could be bribed or otherwise persuaded to cooperate with the drug smuggling scheme.
After months of meetings and covert surveillance, Fahie and Ms. Maynard were arrested on April 28, 2022 at a Miami airport, having been lured there by the DEA agents on the promise that the requested initial cash payments were waiting for them in a private jet that was parked on the tarmac and waiting to take them back to the BVI. After each entered the jet to observe the funds, reportedly decoy currency placed by the DEA, they were arrested and taken into federal custody. Kadeem Maynard, meanwhile, was arrested on the same day in St. Thomas, and initially detained in Puerto Rico.
While Fahie applied for and was granted bail on extremely restrictive conditions while awaiting trial, both Maynards opted to remain in federal custody while their legal matter worked its way through the courts. On June 12 or shortly thereafter, they may learn just how much longer their incarceration will last, after Judge Williams hears their guilty pleas. Fahie's trial is scheduled for mid-July.
