The 37-year-old Spooners Estate resident, a mother of four, pleaded guilty to harbouring illegal immigrants on July 24. Her sentence will run from the time of her detainment on July 23.

Magistrate Tamia Richards said she had been impressed by testimony from two of Ms. Stanley’s children who recently appeared in court as character witnesses. But she added that she could not overlook the aggravating factors of the case in handing down her sentence.

“She has no respect for the law of the Virgin Islands,” Ms. Richards said of the defendant. “The court must send a strong message.”

According to prosecutors, Ms. Stanley invited four men from the United States to perform in a strip show she had promoted. She made work permit applications for the strippers, but they were denied by the Labour Department, prosecutors said.

She allegedly deceived the men and told them she had made the proper arrangements for them to perform legally.

Ms. Richards said she took several factors into account when making in her decision: the offence was for monetary gain; the illegal entry and harbouring Ms. Stanley had arranged was for several strangers (rather than a family member, for example); there was a high degree of deception; and there also a high amount of planning involved.

“It is unacceptable behaviour,” Ms. Richards said.

See the Aug. 23, 2012 edition for full coverage.