Inniss loses appeal against his conviction

Donville Inniss, the former St James South Member of Parliament and Minister of Industry has lost his appeal on money laundering related charges in the United States of America.
The US Appeals Court for the Second Circuit rejected Barbadian’s arguments against his 2020 conviction on three money laundering and bribery related charges.

The former politician and businessman is currently incarcerated in a US jail serving a two-year sentence.
His attorney had argued, unsuccessfully, that Inniss’ conduct was not technically laundering of cash after it was sent from the dental enterprise through which the money from Barbados flowed.
The Appeals Court also rejected the contention of Inniss’ counsel that the jury was misdirected by the judge.
Inniss, 56, who resided in Tampa, Florida, was convicted on charges that he laundered US$36,000 for his part in a scheme to move bribe payments from the Insurance Corporation of Barbados between2015 and 2016.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations investigated the case and Acting U.S. Attorney Mark J. Lesko of the Eastern District of New
York said at the time of Inniss’ conviction in New York: “The sentence sends a strong message that the Department is committed to prosecuting corrupt officials like Inniss who seek to use the US financial system to hide their bribe payments.” (IMC1)