Nearly 1,100 files were included in two sets of “Embassy Suites Video Clips” recently disclosed to defence lawyers as part of the evidence that United States prosecutors say supports their allegations of a cocaine-smuggling conspiracy involving former Premier Andrew Fahie, former BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard, and her son Kadeem Maynard.
On Nov. 14, prosecutors turned over “video clips entitled ‘Embassy Suites Video Clips 1’ (575 files) and ‘Embassy Suites Video Clips 2’ (517 files),” according to the US government’s Dec. 28 response to a standing discovery order in the case. No further details about the videos were provided in the filing, but the original complaint against the trio alleges that Mr. Fahie and Ms. Maynard both met with an undercover US Drug Enforcement Agency officer in a Miami hotel the day before their April 28 arrest to discuss the details of their alleged drug-smuggling plans.
The hotel was not named in the complaint, but an Embassy Suites by Hilton is located about three miles from the Miami International Airport. Prosecutors initially shared the new video evidence with the defence attorneys on Nov. 14 via the file sharing site USAFx, according to the Dec. 28 response.
However, on Nov. 14 and 15, respectively, attorneys for Mr. Fahie and Mr. Maynard indicated that they could not access the evidence, the document stated. The prosecutors subsequently mailed encrypted flash drives containing the video clips on Nov. 16, according to the filing.
Previous discovery
In previous disclosures between June and September, prosecutors turned over more than 133 hours of audio and video recordings, they stated in a Sept. 12 filing. If played back-to-back without interruption, those recordings would last for more than five full days. The files include recordings of meetings and phone calls that were secretly taped by US agents and informants, as well as files extracted from a Samsung Note 10 phone and other electronic devices belonging to Mr. Fahie and Ms. Maynard, according to the Sept. 12 filing.
Other items provided to the defence during the discovery process include US DEA reports, phone and computer data, WhatsApp messages, Puerto Rico law enforcement reports, and bank records, the document noted.
Indictments
Under the original grand jury indictment filed on May 10, the three 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 did not object to Mr. Fahie’s request to reschedule the trial, according to his attorney.
Mr. Fahie is currently on house arrest at his daughters’ rented Florida apartment, and the Maynards remain in custody pending trial.