Blind man gets two years for cocaine trafficking

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:A visually impaired St James man, who attempted to smuggle more than two pounds of cocaine out of the island, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Fifty-six-year-old chef, Martin Nelson, of a Barrett Town address, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export cocaine when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $1.2 million in fines.

The facts are that sometime earlier this month, Nelson was held with the drug at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay while preparing to board a flight to Nassau in The Bahamas. He was arrested and charged after the cocaine was found in his luggage.

MOney for Glaucoma treatment

"Why did you have the cocaine, sir?" Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tai asked Nelson prior to his sentencing.

"I have glaucoma in one eye, and the other eye is going bad, and I needed money, and somebody made me an offer, and I fell for it. I was going to get US$2,000," said Nelson.

"Do you understand, sir, that this is a very serious offence? Do you know what the likely consequence for it is?" asked RM Tai.

"I know it's a case that can send me to prison," Nelson admitted.

"You cannot use the condition of your eyes to excuse what you did, and I believe you know that," the magistrate said sternly.

Nelson was given a mandatory prison sentence of two years and four months. He was also ordered to pay $350,000 or spend six months in jail for possession of cocaine; $400,000 or six months for dealing; and $450,000 or six months for attempted export, with the sentences to run consecutively if the fines are not paid.