Jason James Grogg is back to police custody after being slammed with eight fresh charges. The new charges were brought against the American by the Customs Department. Grogg was picked up by Customs officials on May 4 while attempting to board a flight at the Charles Douglas Airport to attend a meeting in Barbados.
Two days earlier on May 2, Grogg was released from the Dominica State Prison after he paid the $25,000 fine imposed on him by Magistrate Michael Laudat. He had been charged by the police with importing a large cache of firearms and ammunition into Dominica without a license. He was represented in that case by the team of Julien Prevost and Jilane Prevost.
Grogg’s wife Jennifer and daughter Sarah had also been charged in that case, but the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Sherma Dalrymple, struck out the charges against the ladies. His three other children had also been left off the hook. The case had come before Justice Thomas W. R. Astaphan.
With the latest arrest on Thursday and arraignment before Magistrate Laudat on Monday, the Customs Department is charging Grogg with importing a vehicle and several properties into Dominica under the umbrella of the nonprofit group, Feed My Sheep (FMS), an arrangement that exempted him from paying relevant customs duties on the items. FMS and Grogg had long parted ways.
The government is charging the American from Indiana with false declaration of imports and evasion of customs duties among other charges. At his arraignment, Judge Laudat categorized the charges as five indictable charges and three summary charges. He said he would not be able to preside over the case since he just ruled over a similar case last week and does not want to bring the court into disrepute on allegations of bias.
I have heard the facts in your first matter and since the question of bias may creep in, I have to be very careful and must recuse myself from this matter and send it before another Magistrate.
Michael Laudat, Magistrate
The judge said he would have given a ruling on the case if the police and customs case were brought together last week; or if all the new charges were indictable. He said the honourable thing for him to do is to recuse himself from the case and let another judge preside over the matter. Grogg smiled wanely and nodded in acknowledgement, his eyes thanking the judge for his sincerity.
The US national was returned to police custody pending his appearance before a new judge on Tuesday, May 9.
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