Ex-customs officer facing long jail term
David Lobo
(CNS): David Lobo (33), a former customs officer convicted in a cocaine smuggling ring with four other men earlier this year, is expected to be given a lengthy jail term on Friday after the lawyers in the case made their final submission to a judge this week. Lobo, who is from Bodden Town, was the only member of the gang who had denied the charges. However, he was found guilty following a trial in which two of his co-conspirators gave evidence against him.
Lobo is now facing the longest jail term in the conspiracy, which prosecutors claim could have netted him more than $90,000 if the gang had not been busted.
During submissions to the court on Wednesday, his attorney, Amelia Fosuhene argued that just because Lobo was the man buying the cocaine, this did not make him the drug king-pin, and noted that he was of previous good character.
Meanwhile, lawyers representing Alan Taylor Dominguez and Lesme Perez Ruiz, Colombian and Venezuelan nationals who were described by the crown as the organisers, argued that they were not necessarily major players in the scheme.
Both men also gave evidence against Lobo, having made early admissions following their arrest and entered guilty pleas. Their lawyers also raised the question of Dominguez, who they said had become involved in the drug conspiracy as a result of his failing business, serving his time in his native Venezuela, as he claims to have been threatened throughout the case for giving evidence.
The two drug mules, Jose Ferrini and Yoandry Molina, both from Venezuela, had taken the greatest risk as they had swallowed the drug-filled condoms, but had never received the $2,000 they had each been promised for their part in the smuggling operation. They were both convicted in Summary Court more than 18 months ago and have been waiting to be sentenced ever since.
The two men are brothers-in-law. The court heard that they do not have any previous convictions but had taken part in the conspiracy only because Ferrini’s baby had been born with Hydrocephalus and the family could not afford the money for an operation. The men saw this as the only way to raise the money, but since the men were caught and arrested, the baby has died.
Justice now for the young child he molested. You creep
Easy your self lobo ,money is still here to be made northward is a money pool im taking care of my whole family out of my one man cell im leaving this year so i guess you should take advantage 2 spliff $25 tablet bottle $175 qp &500 theres is nothing to think about ..
7:56 your so correct been saying that for awhile.
jesus hates the sin…loves the sinner…the church doors are open to all….as it is for mr lobo
i could swear this lil boy is a Christian that go to church…cocaine in the church yard now…a wha dis
Another good Caymanian taken down by a sham investigation.
Free Lobo Bobo !
7:38 am, people like you is why is so much crime in cayman, you should be locked up with him for saying free him
david is still an outstanding church member…they church welcomes him back as soon as he gets out…
7:15 am, i sure don’ want to go to his church.
… lol
Outstanding church member – was he tithing 10% of his drugs proceeds?
I can see your Church does not mind receiving BLOOD MONEY… donations from idiots like him selling poison to children and on a Sunday coming to your Church to donate part of the proceeds to the coffers. YOU KEEP HIM.
We asked for the civil service to hold staff accountable and root out the bag eggs. Well it is happening.
Nothing to do with the civil service, except he was paid full salary for the months (or longer) he was awaiting trial. It was the police who caught this lowlife, but it’s amazing how people still support a Class A drug trafficker.
Well at least they didnt elect him to the LA
Your Comments disgust me.
Lobo is being falsely imprisoned by a thirsty judicial system.
2:45 am, you are part of the problem here, you should be ashamed of yourself saying free a drug dealer. Drugs is ruining a lot of our children and you say free him, shame, shame.
He had a good job but he was too greedy! Got of scotch free the first time but not this time bo bo. It’s called karma.
Put Lobo in prison for a long time, he is a one bad egg.
He is not of previous good character.
Lobo does not sound like a Caymanian name, what is his nationality?.
Mixup
3;01pm, what does it matter? He is guilty and going to prison. Good riddance to another drug dealer.
If he’s not Caymanian, he should be deported rather than festering in our prisons and being a drain on society.
He is Caymanian now. Maybe the laws should be change to consider that anyone who received status even through long term residence be stripped of their rights and deported once a crime is committed. Oh wait, that’s only in the law until you get full status…..Crimes such as this is effectively treason on the country and its people.
3.01pm see 6.10am’s comment below for the answer to your question.