Fahie Claims Minor Role In Cocaine Scheme, Seeks Lessened Sentence

Andrew Fahie, the former British Virgin Islands leader who used the code name Head Coach in a plot to smuggle huge quantities of cocaine through Tortola to the mainland United States then hide the proceeds, has asked a federal judge in Miami to lessen his potential penalty when sentenced.

Fahie, 53, was convicted of cocaine smuggling and money laundering charges Feb. 8. Arrested with Fahie in Miami April 28, 2022 was the B.V.I.’s then-Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine Pickering Maynard, who pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday. Maynard’s son, Kadeem Maynard, was arrested in Miami and sentenced to 57 months in prison.

Fahie could be sentenced to life in prison and a $10-million fine. He’s asked the judge to sentence him to a maximum of 10 years — the minimum.

Fahie’s attorney filed a brief June 7 claiming the former top elected B.V.I. official had only a minor role in the plot, had no knowledge of a side deal between Maynard and government agents posing as drug runners, and did not actually import any cocaine.