Former Premier Andrew Fahie was released from the Federal Detention Center in Miami on Monday pending his trial after his lawyer and prosecutors argued over his bond for more than a month, according to the United States Bureau of Prisons website.
Mr. Fahie’s hearing and release came after Albion “Bobby” Hodge, a prominent Virgin Islands businessman and Mr. Fahie’s childhood friend, last Thursday agreed to post his $500,000 corporate surety bond and satisfy that bond’s Nebbia requirement by proving the money was not the proceeds of crime.
Besides the corporate surety bond — which also requires Mr. Fahie to undergo 24-hour GPS monitoring, sign an extradition waiver, and refrain from leaving his daughters’ Miami apartment even for attorney visits — Judge Kathleen Williams also ordered a $500,000 personal surety bond to be co-signed by Mr. Fahie, his daughter and a friend.
Mr. Fahie signed the extradition waiver on Monday.
His release the same day culminated a drawn-out legal battle over his bond conditions.
US prosecutors had argued that Mr. Fahie would likely flee and pose a danger to the community if released. But Theresa Van Vliet, Mr. Fahie’s lawyer, insisted that Mr. Fahie would in fact appear in court, further contending that the prosecutors’ argument was based on unfounded, sometimes inconsistent, allegations.
Neither Mr. Fahie nor Ms. Van Vliet responded to requests for comment this week.
Hodge affidavit
In an affidavit dated last Thursday, Mr. Hodge stated that his wealth, which he estimated to exceed $30 million, comes from business holdings including villas and hotels, the drinking water company BVI Spring Water, the ferry company Caribbean Maritime Excursions, a Hertz rental car franchise, and a company supplying oxygen to hospitals and medical facilities.
In the affidavit, Mr. Hodge also explained that CME is a USVI-registered company owned by the VI-registered holding company Road Town Fast Ferry Services LTD, which is the titled owner of one or more vessels operated in connection with the entity’s ferry services.
Mr. Hodge added that “the six vessels range from 50-100 feet in length” and can carry between 49 and 315 passengers.
He also said that he purchased the first ferry boat with help from his late brother Stanley, paying approximately $350,000.
While Mr. Hodge used proceeds from the water business and Hertz franchise to “fund the initial acquisition,” his brother used revenue from his hotel and restaurant businesses — Stanley’s Welcome Bar, Stanley’s Welcome Villas, and Carrie’s Comfort Inn — which Mr. Hodge inherited after his brother’s death, according to the affidavit.
Roxane Sylvester
Additionally, Mr. Hodge wrote that he has never been married to Roxane Sylvester, though he didn’t explain why he included this detail.
Ms. Sylvester is the former deputy chairwoman of the BVI Ports Authority.
She has not been named in the US proceedings, but BVIPA Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard was arrested the same day as Mr. Fahie in Miami and hit with the same charges.
Attempts to reach Mr. Hodge and Ms. Sylvester were not immediately successful.