Seven more drug conspiracy suspects face charges

Cayman Islands courthouse, George Town

(CNS): A drug case which involved a total of nine people allegedly involved in selling cocaine saw another two of the gang admit to conspiracy to supply the drug on Friday, when seven more of the suspects appeared in Grand Court. While two more suspects remain in discussions with the prosecution over the charges, another three have denied the allegations and will face trial.

Alexander Adrian Ebanks, who the crown claims was the lead conspirator in the case, was jailed for six and a half years this week, while Canute Nairn, who was charged with conspiracy to import as well as supply cocaine, is awaiting a verdict after a short judge alone trial last week.

Most of the suspects were arrested and charged based on the information police obtained from Ebanks’ phones. Messages on those phones, which contained the contact details for more than 50 of Ebanks’ customers, also implied that several other people were helping the local man sell the drugs.

Christopher Digregrio Khan (27) admitted converting criminal property after assisting Ebanks to convert CI$1000 to US dollars at a time when there was a shortage of American cash in Cayman due to problems some local retail banks were having with the money transfer companies. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to supply cocaine between August and October last year. C

Christopher Philip Bodden (21) also admitted conspiring with Ebanks to supply drugs between August and September last year.

Justice Micheal Mettyear, who was presiding over the arraignment hearing, told both men that when they are sentenced next month they will receive the maximum credit on whatever jail term was handed down.

Meanwhile, Robert Cialon denied eight counts of conspiracy with Ebanks to supply cocaine that allegedly took place between July and October last year, and Ian Duncan also pleaded not guilty to six conspiracy to supply charges between August and September 2015. Ukel Dixon, who is accused of driving Ebanks around, denied one charge of conspiracy to supply drugs between September and October 2015. They are expected to face trial on 16 September.

Justice Mettyear warned the three men that if they were guilty, this was their last chance to get a maximum credit if they were later to admit to the offences before trial but he said that if they were not guilty of the allegations that they conspired to supply drugs with Ebanks, they would go to trial.

Christopher Myles, who also faces several counts of conspiracy to supply, asked for more time before he entered his pleas, via his defence attorney, as the court heard he was still discussing the details of the allegations against him with prosecutors.

All six defendants were released on bail until their next hearings.

Jaesha Hendrix, the seventh suspect and the only woman netted in the conspiracy, who is remanded in custody but has not yet answered the charges, also asked for more time. Facing several counts of conspiracy with Ebanks and other charges, including conspiring to pervert the course of justice, Hendrix is accused of trying to help Ebanks get a false negative drug test result at the courts to dodge a positive result. She asked for an adjournment as a result of continued discussions with the crown.

Hendrix, a duel US/Caymanian citizen with two passports, was originally remanded in May after she went on the run while wanted by police in connection with the conspiracy case and she was reported as a missing person by her family. She was able to secure bail on strict conditions a few weeks ago, the court heard Friday, but her family was unable to meet the requirement of a $15,000 surety. A request by her defence attorney to drop that to $10,000 was refused by the court and she was remanded until next week, when she is expected to answer the charges.