JP, defendants plead not guilty to the charges
A justice of the peace yesterday pleaded not guilty to participating in a marriage fraud scheme involving two Bahamians and two Haitians.
Bradley Smith, 48, of Moncur Alley off Kemp Road, appeared before Magistrate Kara Deveaux-Turnquest to face charges of fraud in relation to the alleged fraudulent marriages of Willy Exama, 24, a Haitian man, and Bahamian Bridney Johnson, 19 of Yellow Elder; and Anslene Nicolas, 23, a Haitian woman of Greenwood Road and Bahamian Bernard Musgrove of Palm Beach Street for the purpose of Exama and Nicolas obtaining status in The Bahamas.
Smith was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretense, two counts of fraud by false pretense, two counts of attempted fraud by false pretense, two counts of abetment to commit fraud by false pretense, two counts of abetment to commit fraudulent marriage, and two counts of conspiracy to commit a fraudulent marriage.
He was denied bail and remanded to the Department of Correctional Services.
Exama, Johnson, Nicolas and Musgrove were charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretense, fraud by false pretense, attempted fraud by false pretense, fraudulent marriage, and conspiracy to commit a fraudulent marriage.
The defendants each pled not guilty to the five charges.
They were denied bail and remanded to the Department of Correctional Services.
The defendants are expected to return to court on October 3 for trial.
