28 months in Bahamas jail for Guyanese woman held with cocaine in wig

Linda Latoya Reynolds, the Guyanese woman who was caught in The Bahamas with cocaine in a wig, was yesterday sentenced to 28 months in jail.

The Bahama Journal reported yesterday that a weeping Reynolds, 22, threw herself at the mercy of the court before being sentenced for drug charges yesterday.

The young mother was arraigned before Magistrate Andrew Forbes on one count of possession of drugs with intent to supply and another count of importation of dangerous drugs.

The charges stem from an incident on May 23, when Reynolds was searched at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, the Bahama Journal said.

During the search, officers discovered two pounds and 15 ounces of cocaine, packaged and taped under a stocking cap that was placed under a long wig on Reynolds’ head. Reynolds was subsequently arrested. She pleaded guilty to the charges but begged Magistrate Forbes to consider the fact that she is the mother of a four-year-old she left at home in Suriname with a friend.

According to the report, her attorney, Jairam Mangra, asked the court to consider that his client was remorseful and had no previous convictions in the jurisdiction. He noted that she was used simply as a “trafficking mule.”

Magistrate Forbes said he took all points into consideration, but noted that the key factor was that the accused indulged in illegal activity.

Reynolds was sentenced to 28 months at the Bahamas Department of Corrections and on the second count she was given 18 months. The sentences will run concurrently, the Bahama Journal said.