The state has swooped down on a woman convicted of having a high-powered rifle, ammunition and cocaine, seizing more than half-amillion dollars in assets, including land, money and gym equipment.
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It was in 2023 that Shellie-Ann Monique Atkins pleaded guilty to possession of a 5.56 NATO semi-automatic rifle; 70 rounds of ammunition; 9.55 kilogrammes of cocaine and possession of a traffickable quantity on June 17, 2020.
Atkins, of Warrens Park South, St Michael, was sentenced by Justice Anthony Blackman to a further year and 285 days in jail after she had spent more than three years on remand at Dodds Prison. The gun, ammunition and blocks of cocaine were found in her house after a police raid.
Confiscation
Yesterday, in documents filed by Senior State Counsel Kevin Forde under Section 13 of the Proceeds And Instrumentalities Of Crime Act, the State sought an order to confiscate any and all of Atkins’ property which she would have received or benefited from as a result of her criminal conduct.
The document said the “available amount” of tangible property was $626 554, while the “recoverable amount” was in the sum of $1 422 202.
Forde explained the recoverable amount could include payments such as utilities, the purchase of a new vehicle or any item that a person would not normally be able to afford without having access to the proceeds of crime.
The documents said Atkins’ known assets were a parcel of land at Ayshford Estate, St Thomas, which was valued at $203 250; $10 727 in an account at the Bank of Nova Scotia; $8 235 and US$1 718 found at her home, and a gold bracelet and ring valued at $60 160.
The document further revealed “tainted gifts” were gym equipment, worth $56 568, at a house at Headley Land, Bank Hall, St Michael; the granite counter tops valued at $6 400, and $277 743 paid to a man for construction of the property at Headley Land.
The bank account, the granite counter tops and the land at Ayshford have court restraints on them.
The court later ordered Atkins to satisfy the confiscation order in the sum of $1 422 202 which “represents the value of the benefit obtained by [her]”.
The confiscation order must be paid by April 15 next year. A copy of it will be handed over to police, and the properties and items will be sold. The monies will then be paid into the Criminal Asset Recovery Fund.
There will be updates every three months on “the realisation of the available assets” but
Atkins, who was represented by attorney Summer Hassell, has the right to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The court had originally heard police, who were in possession of a search warrant, took up positions surrounding Atkins’ house.
Toilet flushing
After they announced their presence, they heard the sound of the toilet flushing and water flowing into the grease trap. A lawman removed the cover of the grease trap and retrieved a quantity of cocaine.
Other officers then entered the house and spoke with Atkins who had opened her front door.
It was as they were searching the bathroom that they found more cocaine on the floor. More of the illegal drug was found in the toilet bowl. A further nine blocks of cocaine, wrapped in cling wrap, were in a suitcase.
They searched a spare bedroom and found the gun, along with 20 rounds of .223 Remington 5.56×45 mm-calibre ammunition; 50 rounds of .45-calibre ammunition; two 5.56x45mm-calibre 30-round capacity magazines; two 9mm Luger-calibre 31-round capacity magazines each fitted with a plus two round base; one .45 auto-calibre 25-round capacity magazine; two 9mm Luger-calibre 50-round capacity drum magazine; one 5.56x45mm 60-round capacity-calibre magazine and a conversion kit.
When asked to account for them, the woman told police she had nothing to say. When interviewed by lawmen at Black Rock Police Station, she said: “I had a long conversation with my lawyer. She advised me to cooperate with the police.”
When asked about the guns and drugs, Atkins said: “In relation to the items found, they were brought to my home last month on two separate occasions. The first occasion being a black duffel bag containing a firearm. I did not look into the full extent of the bag but I placed it under the bed in the spare room.”
She said the man, who had brought the items, previously informed her he was “bringing something to leave with me”. She added that same man also brought the cocaine to her house. (HLE)