Lance Small heading to Florida

WANTED fugitive Lance Small is to be extradited to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to face four charges of conspiracy to possess an arsenal of firearms. He lost yet another round in the battle to avoid his extradition, and now the Office of the Attorney General is moving to recover costs in the matter. Senior Magistrate Joanne Connor, presiding in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court, yesterday dismissed a no-case submission from Small’s attorney Pamela Elder SC and ordered that the Jamaat-Al-Muslimeen member be placed into custody and await a warrant from the Attorney General for his surrender to Fort Lauderdale. The magistrate also informed Small that he has the right within 15 days to apply for a writ of habeas corpus. Newsday learnt that the legal team representing the wanted man intends to apply for the writ within days of yesterday’s ruling.

During the period April 17 2000 and May 30 2001, it is alleged that Small, also called Olive Enyahooma-El, and “Fires,” conspired with persons known and unknown to possess firearms — 60 AK-47 rifles, ten MAC-10 machine guns and ten machine gun silencers. It is also alleged that on May 30 2001, Small aided, abetted, counselled and procured Keith Andre Glaude to possess 60 AK-47 rifles, ten MAC-10 firearms, and ten machine gun silencers. Assisting Elder for the wanted man were attorneys Ken Wright, Owen Hinds Jr, and Richard Mason. Appearing for the United States government were Douglas Mendes SC, Dana Seetahal, and David West. Connor pointed out that Keith Andre Glaude said he met with Small during the Carnival celebrations in Trinidad in February 2001, where the issue of guns was allegedly discussed. The other person, John Doe, arranged with Small to purchase the firearms.

Steve Mc Kean, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agent, agreed to supply Small with the firearms. Magistrate Connor pointed out that John Doe was an agent of the US, while Mc Kean was the ATF agent, and therefore they could not be considered co-conspirators. She stated that Mc Kean’s aim was to catch Small. According to the magistrate, Mc Kean did supply the guns to Small. She also noted that the US authorities did not want to identify John Doe at this stage, as doing so may pose a security risk. On the issue of possession of firearms, the magistrate felt this was an issue which should be left to the jury. Connor said based on the legal authorities and the evidence, she was overruling the no-case submission. She said a prima facie case had been made out and she called on Small to make his defence.

Small replied, “I exercise my right to remain silent. I will not be calling any witnesses.” Connor then stated, “Lance Small, you are committed into custody to await the warrant of the Attorney General and for you to surrender to the United States. You have the right within 15 days to apply for a writ of habeas corpus.” Glaude, who lives in the US, was arrested by ATF agents on May 30 2001, when he went to collect the firearms. He pleaded guilty in 2002 and was sentenced to two years in jail. He has now turned witness for the prosecution against Small. There is also a John Doe, a Trinidadian, who was a member of the Jamaat-Al-Muslimeen, who will also give evidence in Florida against Small.