Posted: Sunday, October 27, 2024. 2:46 pm CST.
By Aaron Humes: About a month after police found 9.38 kilograms of cocaine in a family home in Chunox, Corozal District, a family member has taken responsibility.
In September police led a raid at the Montalvo family home of seven, six adults and a minor, leading police to arrest the entire family occupying the home including a Police Corporal, a mother and father, a brother and other family members.
The younger brother of the Corporal, 22-year-old Nadiel Montalvo, has now taken ownership of the found cocaine so his other family members could be set free.
Arrested and charged were Alicia Montalvo, Nadiel’s mother; Enair Montalvo, Nadiel Montalvo, Edney Montalvo, Aida Cabanas, Seidy Montalvo and Abiel Montalvo, along with a seventeen-year-old female minor. They were arraigned three days later in Corozal Town Magistrate’s Court before a sitting Senior Magistrate from Belize City on the charge of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply to another. The charge is similar to drug trafficking and carries the same penalty.
In court, Nadiel Montalvo pleaded guilty to the charge and so his remaining family members walked free after the prosecution accepted Nadiel’s guilty plea. The Senior Magistrate remanded Nadiel Montalvo to prison pending sentencing which was set for Friday, October 18.
The sentencing took place in Belize City with Montalvo represented by defense attorney Leeroy Banner, following which the Senior Magistrate sentenced him to 2 years, 2 months and 16 days imprisonment and a fine of $10,000 and cost of court with effect from October 18.
The Senior Magistrate found that Montalvo could have faced up to four years because of the large amount found and the potential for illicit financial gain from its sale and distribution. However, she discounted time because Nadiel cooperated with police and took responsibility, showed remorse, was a first-time offender and is the sole provider for his family. The father of one was also given good.character testimony from his village chair.
Discounts were also provided for his guilty plea and saving the court time as well as brief time on remand of 44 days.
After hearing his fate inside the court room, his family were very emotional having to say goodbye to him for at least the next two years.
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The post Member of Montalvo family in Corozal caught up in coke bust pleads guilty and jailed for two years appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Sunday, October 27, 2024. 2:46 pm CST. By Aaron Humes: About a month after police found 9.38 kilograms of cocaine in a family home in
The post Member of Montalvo family in Corozal caught up in coke bust pleads guilty and jailed for two years appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
