Andrew Fahie Receives 11-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Conspiracy Charges; Judge Cites ‘Ultimate Betrayal’

Former British Virgin Islands Premier Convicted of Using Territorial Waters for Drug Trafficking; Defense Highlights Community Contributions, but Judge Emphasizes Severity of Crimes

Andrew Fahie, convicted of drug trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in February, has been sentenced to just over 11 years in prison. Prosecutors argued that the nature and severity of his offenses made the former British Virgin Islands Premier eligible for life in prison, while defense counsel argued that he should receive a 10-year sentence.

On Monday, Judge Kathleen Williams said that the scheme in which Mr. Fahie agreed to use BVI territorial waters as a safe haven for cocaine-bearing ships on their journey from Colombia to the United states was “the ultimate betrayal” of the British Virgin Islanders he served as premier.‌

Despite his efforts to “tip the British Virgin Islands from a renowned tourist destination to a haven for narcotrafficking,” Judge Williams acknowledged that Mr. Fahie, over the course of his political career, had helped members of his community further their educational and career aspirations.