Kadeem Maynard was sentenced in a Miami federal court late Monday evening 20 November to just under five years in prison for his role in a scheme to traffic cocaine through the British Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland. The Judge ordered a sentence of 57 months to be served. 

Maynard, 32, of Tortola along with his mother Oleanvine Pickering Maynard had changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty earlier this year. 

Kadeem Maynard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import cocaine under a plea deal reached in June and had faced anywhere from 10 years up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million.  His prison term will be followed by five years of supervised release, and he is also required to pay a special assessment of $100. Maynard is required to comply with all special conditions in the pre-sentence investigation report, which will remain under seal. 

Maynard will be deported upon completion of his sentence. 

Kadeem Maynard was arrested in April 2022 along with his mother, former BVI Ports Director Oleanvine Pickering Maynard, and former BVI Premier Andrew Fahie in a sting operation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

The three are accused of plotting to use their government connections to provide safe passage through the British Virgin Islands for tens of thousands of kilograms of cocaine to the U.S., in exchange for millions of dollars in laundered funds, according to court documents.

Oleanvine Pickering Maynard, 61, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 18, and former Premier Fahie’s case to start on 9 January. 

Pickering Maynard and Fahie were arrested at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on April 28, 2022, after stepping off a private jet they thought contained $700,000 as pre-payment for a first cocaine shipment. Maynard was arrested on St. Thomas on 22 April as well where prosecutors said he expected to receive his first payment.