Car dealer Kurt Browne, found with 158 pounds of marijuana in vehicles parked in his Norton Street premises, was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday.
Magistrate Fabayo Azore, found Browne guilty, following a trial in a city court.
Browne and 34-year-old Rochelle Gordon were jointly charged with the possession of the narcotic for the purpose of trafficking, on March 12, 2013, before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The co-defendants had pleaded not guilty to the allegation.
However, only the charge against Browne was pursued by the police.
It was the prosecution’s assertion, through Police Inspector Burgett Grant, that during the search, the drugs were found and the two defendants were subsequently taken to the Brickdam Police Station.
That prosecutor had further mentioned that the police ranks went to Browne’s Lot 45 Norton Street, Lodge residence, acting on information, and he claimed ownership of the vehicles loaded with marijuana.
At the arraignment, attorney Peter Hugh, who represented Browne, had told the court that Browne is the proprietor of an auto dealership and that he was not the only one with access to the vehicle, while the cars were at his residence.
The prosecution was led by Assistant Deneashwar Maindranauth.
In addition to the sentence, Browne was also fined $30,000.
