William Jewett Jr. fined fifty thousand dollars for Money Laundering

William Jewett Jr.

But back to William Russell Jewett Jr., who has been in and out of court since Monday. Today he appeared once again to answer to charges brought by the Financial Intelligence Unit, Customs and Immigration departments. But after he decided to plead guilty to the Money Laundering charge filed by the FIU, all other charges against him were withdrawn. Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb McKenzie read the details of the charge, which Jewett did not dispute. When it came to the facts presented by the FIU, however, the Chief Magistrate had some questions of her own. Attorney Mikail Arguelles was first called out on an error in the date that Jewett was detained. After amending their report to show that the bust was made on the fifteenth of January and not the thirteenth, the case continued. The Magistrate then pointed out that because the FIU only stated that Jewett did not declare the cash, the charge of Money Laundering was not suitable. So the FIU was again asked to review their facts, which were amended to say that they believe the money and Jewett’s boat were the proceeds of crime. Jewett was not fully in agreement with the FIU’s facts, but pleaded guilty anyway to avoid having the case go to trial. He was then fined fifty thousand dollars to be paid forthwith and was remanded to Hattieville Prison until Monday when he has promised to make payment. Interestingly, the allegations Jewett made against the FIU and US Embassy that they were pressuring him to plead guilty or face eleven years in prison, have charges brought against his wife and lose their child, did not come up in court today.