Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Police still probing Almestica! Detention order on $541K extended

Police still probing Almestica! Detention order on $541K extended

The detention order for the cash seized at the home of Jose Almestica back in December was extended when the matter was recalled before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

More than $541,000 was recovered during a police operation at the Ballast Bay apartment at the time. The money was recovered with several high powered, illegal and prohibited weapons, thousands of ammunition, a large number of counterfeit notes, cocaine and marijuana.

The detention order for the money was already in effect from December 16 but it will expire on March 16, and investigations in the case are still ongoing. As a result, Magistrate Tamia Richards extended the detention order until June 16, while the police continues their probe into Almestica’s arrest and the subsequent seizure of the illicit items.

Magistrate Richards said $541,000 is no small change and the police would need time to fully investigate the matter. She added that it was within reason to assume the money is important to the investigation, hence the reason for detention.

Update on Case Disclosure


Almestica and his other three co-accused Jennifer Smith and siblings Renee and Shamal Smith appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday for an update on whether the prosecution had provided the defence counsels with all the relevant case files to move ahead with proceedings to commit the matter to the High Court. This process is known as ‘paper committal’.

The prosecution had indicated it had disclosed all the documents to the defence but said there were some things outstanding that would be disclosed once they become available.

The lawyer for Almestica, Ruthilia Maximea objected and said she needed to have all the documents disclosed before a date was set for the paper committal. This was so she could receive proper instructions from her client.

However, Magistrate Richards said the prosecution had indicated it would take four to six weeks to be obtained. She also said in any trial new evidence can come up and this should not hinder the procession of the matter.

The senior magistrate also noted the case would be tried in the High Court and all she has responsibility for is to decide if there is a case to be answered to by the accused.

The matter was adjourned until April 27, 2022, for the paper committal and an update on disclosure of the outstanding documents as indicated by the prosecution.

Charges


Almestica — who was one of the most wanted men in the Virgin Islands — was charged with 11 counts of keeping an unlicensed firearm, four counts of keeping a prohibited weapon, one count of carrying an unlicensed firearm, eight counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, and four counts of possession of a controlled drug with an intent to supply. He was also charged with escaping lawful custody. Before his capture last year, he was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm along with three others.

Meanwhile, the remaining trio of Jennifer, Renee and Shamal were charged with 11 counts of keeping an unlicensed firearm, three counts of keeping a prohibited weapon, seven counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, four counts of possession of a controlled drug with an intent to supply, and harbouring an escaped prisoner.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
×