Cabinet maker gets five years’ jail, $10.8M fine after 60-lb ganja bust

The compressed cannabis found at the home of Errold Brown (Guyana Police Force photo)
The compressed cannabis found at the home of Errold Brown (Guyana Police Force photo)

A cabinet maker was yesterday sentenced to five years in prison and fined $10.8 million after admitting to having possession of 60 pounds of cannabis for trafficking.

Although Errold Brown was charged alongside Shellyann Pompey, he took sole responsibility for the narcotics. “She (Pompey) was just at the house, she don’t have nothing to do with it…,” Brown told Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. “I throw myself at the mercy of the court,” he added.

The charge stated that on August 19th, at Brown’s Lot 125 BB Eccles address, they had 27.318 kilogrammes (equivalent to 60.22 pounds) of cannabis in their possession for trafficking.

Shellyann Pompey

Pompey, 28, of 74 First Street Craig, East Bank Demerara, denied the charge.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield said ranks from the Police Narcotics Branch went to the home of Brown, where they met both him and Pompey. A request was made to carry out a search of the home, which resulted in the discovery of a large green travelling bag and a large plastic bag. When the bags were opened, there were several compact brown and yellow parcels, which contained leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis.

Errold Brown

Following his plea, Brown, who was identified as a “foreign national” by police and spoke with a Jamaican accent, was sentenced and fined $10,817,928.

Meanwhile, despite the prosecution’s objection to bail being granted, Pompey was asked to post $200,000 bail for her release. She is set to return to court on August 29th for the next hearing.