Melbourne Francis, 28, of Long Look pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges that he acquired, possessed or used the proceeds of criminal conduct — specifically, the $190,501.42 stolen during the January MoneyGram robbery in Road Town.
Mr. Francis and others found the money after the original robbers hid it in a ghut near the MoneyGram office while evading police, acting Principal Crown Counsel Tiffany Scatliffe said on Friday during a sentencing hearing in Magistrates’ Court.
When first questioned on April 15, Mr. Francis denied any involvement, but two days later he confessed to police, Ms. Scatliffe said.
“Mr. Francis told the police that he gave some of the money he received to his friends, and he lived a lavish lifestyle” until the money he kept ran out, she said.
Marie-Lou Creque, who represents Mr. Francis, asked Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens not to send her client to jail, saying that the carwash worker and heavy equipment operator needs to support his 7-year-old daughter.
See the June 30, 2011 edition for full coverage.