Former Barbados gov’t minister fined

Former Barbados government minister, Donville Inniss. Photo by George Alleyne
Former Barbados government minister, Donville Inniss.
Photo by George Alleyne

Convicted money launderer and former Barbados government minister, Donville Inniss, will have to pay the United States Government $36 536.73, precisely the amount that a New York court found him guilty of illegally receiving from an insurance company on the island and seeking to launder to New York accounts through wire transfers.

According to a Barbados Nation newspaper report, US District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto gave the order on mid-August.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in the Eastern District Court of New York on Nov. 23.

“It is hereby ordered, adjudged and decreed, on consent, by and between the United States and the defendant as follows: The defendant shall forfeit to the United States the full amount of the Forfeiture Money Judgement,” the order stated.

“All payments made towards the Forfeiture Money Judgment shall be made by a money order, or certified and/or official bank check, payable to US Marshals Service with the criminal docket number noted on the face of the instrument.”

According to the Nation newspapers, the order further directed that if Inniss fails to pay any portion of the Forfeiture Money Judgment, he shall forfeit any other property of his up to the value of the outstanding balance.

“This order shall become final as to the defendant at the time of sentencing and shall be made part of the sentence and included in the judgment of conviction.”

The court in January found Inniss guilty of two counts of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering based on bribes received from the Barbados insurance company that has its headquarters in Bermuda.

Inniss, who lost a motion for aquittal in July, faces a maximum 20-year imprisonment.