Parole for Reynaldo Verde?

The fate of Reynaldo Verde will be determined on Wednesday. The Deputy Director of the Belize Tax Service remains behind bars in the U.S. on charges of interference with commerce by means of extortion and attempted extortion. There is now a possibility that he might not face jail time. Court documents show that Attorney Karen Rochlin, who was appointed by the U.S. Government, has recommended pre-trial diversion (P.T.D.). The recommendation was made to Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman after a court-appointed attorney was absent during the prior court session.  P.T.D. is an alternative to prosecution which seeks to divert certain offenders from traditional criminal justice processing into a programme of supervision and services administered by the U.S. Probation Service. The decision where this recommendation will be accepted will be handed down on Wednesday morning. Verde is accused of extortion and attempting to extort the principal of Orchid Bay Development, Chris Williams.