Guyanese on US$50,000 for undeclared

US$35,000

Vilton Bourne

A New York-based Guyanese was arrested last week by US authorities after he failed to declare more than US$26,000 in cash that he was carrying.
Vilton Bourne, 30, has since been placed on US$50,000 bail.
According to a complaint by Special Agent, Gregory Stemkowski, of the Department of Homeland Security, Bourne was set to travel to Guyana on February 19 on a Caribbean
Airlines flight to Guyana.
Personnel from the Customs and Border Protection at the JFK International Airport selected him for an “outboard enforcement” examination.
When asked, he declared US$9,000 and signed a form. However, he reportedly presented US$10,000 to the officers, the complaint said.
He was asked if he had other cash and Bourne replied in the negative.
According to the Special Agent, the security officials took his two pieces of luggage and searched them. There was US$10,000 in each.
In the defendant’s wallet, the officials discovered that Bourne had US$5,577.
He was arrested. In total, the complaint said Bourne had US$35,577.
Bourne was charged with knowingly and with intent to evade the currency reporting requirements, he attempted to transport the cash from the US.
On February 20, he appeared before Judge Cheryl Pollak of the Eastern District of New York Court.
Bourne was ordered held until February 24 when he was placed on US$50,000 bail.
According to the court documents, there may be a possibility of the plea bargain.
Bourne was ordered not to leave the New York area until the matter is completed.