BVI MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHT MONTHS FOR FAILING TO STOP HIS VESSEL BEING USED FOR HUMAN SMUGGLING

St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Buney Chinnery, 22, of Tortola, BVI, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy to eight months incarceration on his conviction for failure to heave to law enforcement and giving a false statement.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 31, 2022, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine agents were conducting border security patrol between the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Agents approached Coral Bay, St. John, and observed Chinnerys’ vessel operating without navigation lights. Despite continued warnings and attempts to stop the vessel, Chinnery refused to stop and accelerate his vessel while operating the it in an evasive manner. Agents eventually disabled the vessel and later discovered Chinnery along with six individuals attempting to gain illegal entry into the United States.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natasha L. Baker.