As former Premier Andrew Fahie’s Florida trial nears, a judge agreed last week to relax the conditions of his house arrest to allow travel for medical purposes and attorney visits, according to documents filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Mr. Fahie is scheduled to go on trial in July along with former BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard and her son Kadeem Maynard for allegations of a cocaine-smuggling conspiracy.
On Friday his attorney, Theresa Van Vliet, filed a motion in the Florida court to modify the conditions of his bond. Prosecutors did not oppose the motion, which Judge Kathleen Williams approved the same day.
Attorney visits
Ms. Van Vliet said in the motion that she has routinely visited Mr. Fahie at his daughter’s apartment in Miami since last May. However, she noted that the trial, which is set to commence on July 17, is “quickly approaching.” Since her office is located in Fort Lauderdale, she stated, the requisite preparation will be much more difficult if Mr. Fahie is still confined to the apartment.
In addition, Ms. Van Vliet said the size of the residence “makes confidential communication difficult if not impossible if either of his two daughters are home.”
She added, “While [requesting] that they leave the residence during the shorter duration meetings to date has been sufficient, requiring them to leave the premises for extended periods of time during trial preparation will be impossible given the fact that each attends school online. Mr. Fahie’s trial preparation would be better served in a law office replete with the necessary materials and resources, including the ability to speak freely and confidentially with counsel.”
Dental treatment
She added that Mr. Fahie also requires dental treatment following a recent root canal. “Accordingly, Mr. Fahie respectfully requests that the current travel restrictions under the bond order be modified for the limited purpose of allowing dental visits, as well as attorney visits to the undersigned’s offices in either Miami (during trial) or Fort Lauderdale, Florida no more than three times per week beginning June 26, 2023, and continuing through the duration of the trial.”
She also requested that he be allowed to make a single visit to the Fort Lauderdale office tomorrow for a consultation on “certain time-sensitive matters.”
Ms. Van Vliet added that he would continue to wear his ankle monitor and would agree to be accompanied by a former federal or state law enforcement official if required by the court.
Indictments
Under the original grand jury indictment filed on May 10, Mr. Fahie and his co-defendants were accused of conspiracy to import a controlled substance, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and attempted money laundering.
A Nov. 9 superseding indictment included the original charges as well as the additional count of “interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering” against Mr. Fahie and Ms. Maynard, who pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were arraigned again on Nov. 16 and 17, respectively.
The superseding indictment did not add any new charges against Mr. Maynard, but he was nevertheless arraigned again on Nov. 16 for the original charges, and he again pleaded not guilty, according to court records.
Shortly after the arraignments, Mr. Fahie’s attorney successfully requested that the previous January trial date be pushed forward to July 17, a year after it was initially set to begin. Attorneys for the Maynards — who are in prison on remand — did not object to Mr. Fahie’s request to reschedule the trial, according to his attorney.