Coke dealer jailed for 8 years

| 10/02/2012

(CNS): A Grand Court judge has handed down an eight year prison sentence to a 32-year-old man for his part in a conspiracy to supply ½ kilo of cocaine to what turned out to be undercover cops. Osman Bonilla pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a class A drug, an offence which carries a maximum of ten years in prison. Justice Seymour Panton told the convicted man, who has a previous history of drug dealing, that there was hardly anything to be said in his favour other than his guilty plea, which saved the court time. The judge pointed out that, given the level of evidence, he would have had little chance of a not guilty verdict had the case gone to trial.

The judge said that, given the accused man’s previous record in conjunction with his admission of guilt, he believed that eight years was an appropriate sentence.

“He has displayed a particular weakness in respect of drug offences,” the judge stated as read out his sentencing judgement. He pointed to a five year sentence that Bonilla had received for dealing in 2004 and observed that he had "clearly not learnt his lesson yet.”

Bonilla was caught up in a long undercover operation by the RCIPS in which officers first bought drugs from him in a small quantity at Royal Palms as they posed as real estate developers visiting the island.

The officers had approached Bonilla and engaged him in conversation before asking if he was the guy for the ‘white stuff’.  Ironically, as he revealed that he was the person selling cocaine to the undercover officers, he asked them if they were cops.  The officers purchased one gram of cocaine at $50 and pretended to use it before telling the duped dealer that they would be back for more.

Over a period of weeks the police met with Bonilla on a number of other occasions buying increasing amounts from him before they expressed an interest in buying even greater quantities. Each of the meetings was recorded by the officers and the drugs bought were taken from the dealer, tested and bagged as evidence, the court had heard during Bonilla’s sentencinghearing, when the crown publicly outlined the case against him.

Eventually, Bonilla had introduced the officers to his co-conspirator, who is facing a separate legal hearing as he has pleaded not guilty. The undercover Drugs Task Force officers, Bonilla and the co-conspirator met in a West Bay Road restaurant in October 2010, where they discussed the sale of a half kilo of cocain,e which the police, still posing as real estate developers, said they intended to ship overseas.

Some two hours after the meeting and following a call with the co-conspirator, Bonilla called the police back with a price of $10,500 for the drugs, sealing his part in the conspiracy to deal. The two men were eventually arrested in November, along with a number of others who were believed to be involved in the drug dealing gang.

The judge praised the officers involved for the patient operation, which had started in August and lasted several months. The undercover drug operation was triggered by the belief that a group of dealers were selling class A drugs in Seven Mile Beach bars and their goal was to track down the main dealers.

“The police did an excellent job and ought to be commended,” the judge stated as he pointed out that Bonilla would not have fared well had he gone to trial because of the level and quality of the investigation.

When he was arrested and interviewed regarding his role in the conspiracy, Bonilla told the police that he was not a major dealer, which was why he had introduced the undercover officers to someone else when they began asking for large quantities.

“Big guys need to talk to big guys” he had said when the stakes were raised.

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  1. INTEREST AT HEART says:

    My suggestion to all who have children whether they are in school or working. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THEM.  Check their school bags every day.  Check their lunch kits, pockets, shoes and change purse.

    Check your grown up's, going in and comming out if they are living with you, and last but not least, you had better check your man tool kit and pocket. (see I said man, and not husband, because it is very unlikley you will find a husband going out and robbing,)

    Sometimes you will be surprised, but again you may have a good reason to suspect that something is not right.   Women today have become too relaxed with their children and theeeir men.  Dont be afraid to spy on them all.  It may save their life and yours too.

  2. Keep Bodden Town Dump Free says:

    Says the Lazy ass Bodden Town police is not keeping BTown drug free.  The chief either should remove himself or deal with the situation.  They have no stragety whatsover in  combating the problem, and it is about time someone with do something about it. 

  3. Anonymous says:

    That's a light sentence for a three time loser. In my state of the USA you get life if you are convicted for dealing three times. Not saying it's a deterrent but it does get people off the streets who will never be rehabilitated.

  4. Anonymous says:

    I've known Osman since I was young, it is true that he has been in trouble for a long time but there has always been a lot of good in him too.  It is sad when youths have to turn to this side of life…hopefully now some others will see him behind bars and it can be a caution for others rather than him being on the street and kids looking up to the "cool dealer"

    • Anonymous says:

      Bad situtations in life can lead you down the wrong path.  I hope he will turn his life around after all this.  He was an easy going young man, but the cards were always turned on him.

    • Anonymous says:

      Oz is a great guy… I too am saddened by this….

    • Reality Check says:

      Nah, I don't buy the "good guy" line other than, "he is good for rotting jail for being pathetic criminal scum".

  5. Anonymous says:

    Jail him for 8 years yet someone takes a life by DUI and gets not even a 1/4 of his time. I do not understand our justice system.

    • Profound Reality! says:

      DUI's are directly linked to alcohol consumption. Since Govt's everywhere are all hypocrites legalizing it even with its record of destruction, its probably best sentences are shorter, you know to paint the illusion that alcohol causes less social destruction.

      Alcohol-taking one life at a time!

       

  6. Profound Reality! says:

    So who do we blame for the drug problem faced here and across the globe, the supply or demand? Elementary economics will tell the tale of demand having everything to do with supply, it is fair to forecast based on this that for each falling supplier another will take his or her's place as demand has yet to be addressed. Demand on this island varies across district, age group, and financies,anyone who has had a line or two can speak of this drug's pricey truth.

    West Bay and George Town are the largest and most problomatic districts with respect to drug use, suppliers. Focuse education to the primary and high schools; adapt an open door policy for the younger genration growing up under these influences(uh hmmn… parents you know who you are!) . I spent a few years in Cayman's party scene and can confirm weed and coke are our drugs of choice, 15-4O somebody year olds, I spent many nights rolling fatties and snorting lines with local "thugs',bartenders, enforcment officers, professionals(you know the suited ones, they attract a large percentile of demand based on cash power), male and female alike. Next time we are blaming a group of people please dont assume just one is responsible, we all have a hand in this mess.

    Eight years in Cayman's prison, how much is this costing the public purse? Whats our succes rate at rehabilating anyone? Seems like another fancy word created to justify another suited jockers extravagant pay check! But hey lets keep on doing what were doing, its working, isn't it?!

    • Puff the Magic Iguana says:

      Legalisation, taxation, available treatment for the minority that get into problems and increased sentencing for those that commit crimes under the influence.  That is the only rational way to deal with narcotics.  People want them.  People use them.  People will get them.  The present system just provides a massive amount of money to criminals.

  7. cubanlinx says:

    its funny how people are so quick to judge.non of us know why he hustled on the street and sold cocaine .alot of the things we do in life  we cant not control beacause is in our genes for example,osmans father  was a hard working man from honduras how came here with nothin g and started a lanwn service and became very succesfull.therefore the kid had alot to prove to his family but he went the wrong way to do it and tobecome succesfull .the point i am trying to make is that some people  are just  goin to be go getters beacause is in their genes to work hard, go get money ,by al means nececery.but some of us had the advantage of growing up and not seeing your family and their friends using drugs,alcohol,and seeing the underground world that is here in the buitiful cayman island.AND FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE TALKING SH*t ABOUT THE MAN,i hope your back is never against the wall that you have to feed your children and theres no other means necce cery to provide for your family.we never know what we might have to do in life to feed our families.drug dealing is just like any other buissiness only that the product you are selling is illegal and what is illegal?whatever the goverment cant tax.these guys where not "big dealers" as the police would like you to believe these are young caymanians with 3rd world country connections.who when approched by foring drug dealers sent them cocaine to distribute. come on cayman why you think tons of cocaine ,marijuana,guns,and other contraband passes thru these shores, wake up cayman this did not start yesterday tons of ccocaine an marijuana sit here in cayman at any giving time waiting  be exported somewhere else or for consumtion her on the island.the world would go upside down if you stopped all drugs from hitting the streets and if they do people will find something to get high on ,prime example alcohol,tabacco,sex,food,church, anything that you do repetevly is an addiction so whats your addiction.STOP BRINGING DOWN YOUR OWN PEOPLE, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU FOREFATHERS DID SO YOU COULD LIVE THIS EASY LIFE WE LIVE IN THE CAYMAN ISLAND.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, Osman's parents are very nice and hard working people (RIP Mr. Moises).

      HOWEVER…..you are very wrong in that Osman has NO kids to support. Why does he do what he does? Because all he is interested in is the easy fast money.  I knew him very well for a number of years and he wasnt interested in holding down a regular job, he just wanted to deal and get his quick cash that way.  They got the right person though, because yes he did deal all along the 7 Mile beach strip, including to the toursts on the beaches.  He didnt only serve a 5 year sentence in 2004. In 2002 he also served time for ANOTHER sting he was involved in at Royal Palms in 2000.  Long history Osman has. No children to support. Only his own laziness and greediness.

  8. Whodatis says:

    Forgot to express gratitude and congratulations to the RCIPS in a successful operation in the efforts to clampdown on the coketrade in the Cayman Islands.

    Job well done!

    Furthermore, I TRUST that we are paying attention to the "characters" in this operation.

    The police did not pose as some wife-beater wearing, braided-hair, bicycle riding "bad boy" from Windsor Park – you know, the type that tends to make our local news on a daily basis these days.

    No – they posed as wealthy, "foreign", presumably clean-cut, non-Caymanian businessmen. There is a good reason why such a tactic was employed.

    A lot of interesting goings-ons take place in the heart of our most affluent areas, communities and establishments.

    • Flossy says:

      Whodatis, 02/11/2012 – 00:52

      You never cease to crack me up.

       

    • Anonymous says:

      It's worrisome that "foreign real estate developers" were so tacitly accepted as drug-buyers. 

    • Ya Make Yer Choices . . . says:

      Professional ex-pats buy their coke from professional Caymanians because buying it directly from dealers is too risky.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Good Job RCIPS. Really great to get these guys off the Street. 

  10. Anonymous says:

    I wonder if his boss will hold his job open for him that long.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Like I said before, once it's a Caymanian convict we have to assume his nationality/status. Obviously he at least has status since he's a repeat offender.  had he been a yardie much would have been made about that. He would have also been given the max like that dude who got 12 years for the gas station robbery.  If you ask me, dealing and taking steps to export drugs is a worst evil since it does far more to damage the country's reputation abroad. Also, when the youth are hooked on drugs they reek havoc on society with increased cases of serious crimes including aggrevated robberies and killings.  In any event. good job RCIP, we need more of this to win back the society.

    • Anonymous says:

      With a name like Osman Bonilla he must be a native Caymanian.

      Quite to the contrary. Some of the 'Caymanian' convicts are nationals of other countries, including Jamaica and Honduras, who have status.

      • Anonymous says:

        His father was Honduran. His mother Caymanian. Osman was born in Honduras and grew up from about age 6 in Cayman.

        • Anonymous says:

          He was also legally adopted by his born Caymanian mother.

          • Anonymous says:

            How can you be adopted by your own mother?

            • Anonymous says:

              She married his father and adopted that man's son, the dealer in question. But you're right Fri 9:29, the post should have said step-mother.

  12. Anonymous says:

    On ly 8 years? He will be back to selling drugs as soon as he is out of prison. He did not learn the lesson before and he is not going to change now. Who is going to hire this guy so he can hold a decent job and what will be his reason when he can make a lot more selling drugs. Pretty sad story that is going to repeat again and in the process take more young people with him to the dumper.

    He is a traitor to the Cayman Islands and its people and should be convicted as such with maximum penalty.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Great. Punishing the small guys while we continue to let the drug lord's flourish with impunity. 

  14. Anonymous says:

    Love you Osman.

     

    Can't help but feel that he's a small fish, like he claimed, and that it's the cops and the judge who are duped into thinking they have accomplished much with this conviction.

  15. Anonymous says:

    One down (well done to the police).

     

    Unfortunately, others will readily step into the vacuum left by this gang.

     

    War on drugs? We are losing. Big time.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Good Job RCIP! Now apply the same tactics to catch the would-be robbers so we can get some more of the scum off the streets!

  17. Dred says:

    Only 8.5 years? I would have given him 20 plus years. Think of it this way. In the course of his crimes he not only just dealt an illegal drug, he ruined lives. You could say he is wanted for murder because at some point, maybe not now but in years to come as a result of what he has done over the live of his criminal activity he will cause someone or some people to loose their lives be it a younger dealer being shot or a father hooked on drugs killing his wife or in the figurative sense of the word by detroying the hopes and dreams of the children their bring into this world.

    Sentences should reflect the OVERALL IMPACT of the crimes not just the immediate sense of the crime. 20 years minimum if it was me.

    Its time we got tough on crime.

  18. anonymous says:

    Hold ya head up vanilla

  19. Whodatis says:

    Saddened by this story.

    Osman's is a cautionary tale to young Caymanian men about making a bad decision early in one's adult life.

    After his (shocking) first offense it was virtually impossible for him to get back on the right track in our society. (Personally, had I been in the position to do so I would have given him a chance in a heartbeat – unlike 99% of the other individuals caught up in his lifestyle.)

    Furthermore, from the age of childhood he never really stood much of a chance of achieving 'averageness' much less greatness. (Some may take offense to that or may be confused by it but I am speaking from first hand knowledge.)

    Really sad as I, and many of us who know him well, know he has such a good heart. (Yes he was clearly a "drug dealer" but there was never a moment where I witnessed him being aggressive or displaying the typical characteristics of such an individual.)

    I will miss seeing you around Osman – I was guaranteed a huge embrace, quick 'catch-up and joyful trip down memory lane every time we ran into one another.

    * “Big guys need to talk to big guys” – yes indeed.

    I suspect there is much more to this story as he often enjoyed perks (vehicles, SMB accommodation, comps' in well known establishments) that I doubt he was personally funding. But let me not say much more.

    The easiest thing to do at times like these is to point a finger at an individual in his current position. As naieve and contradictory as this may appear to an outsider – on this occasion I cannot.

    Take care of yourself Osman … I hope you manage to hold on to 'you' in the coming years.

    • Anonymous says:

      Remember that his first offense wasnt in 2004. It was in 2002, and he got a light sentence for that, only 3 months and he served less than 6 weeks. He gave a whole sob story to the court about how he was abused as a child and had to take care of his younger brother, blah blah blah. Yes, he has a great big heart, and he has a brain to go along with that. He'll get out and go RIGHT BACK to doing what he knows best, selling drugs.

      He aboslutely knows who the big guys are, that's where he was getting the 1/2 kilo of cocaine. But no one will give up anyone else, so the big guys are safe, as usual.

      I feel badly for his mom. She is a very very nice lady. But he himself chose his path even after countless times his parents tried to counsel him and talk with him. He didnt care one bit…fast money and tourist women are what Osman is all about.

      • Like It Is says:

        I am tired of sob stories.  Sentencing should reflect a) the offence and b) the offender's record and nothing else.

    • Anonymous says:

      I am more sad to hear that so many people here knew him well and obviously did nothing to get him out of the wrong path he was getting into.  Now it comes to light that he had a troublesome childhood, wrong friends and no opprotunity. But the truth is, all of you that were so close to him did absolutely nothing to help him, except now blaming all of it in our society. And believe it or not, I agree with the fact our society's values keep on going down so then this things happens. We need to start by taking care of the future generations. We need to start by doing things right everyday, even small things like saying thanks, parking in the right place, setting the right example  and values for the youngsters. Those of us who are older, we will have a much harder time changing now. This guy is just one example of how bad we raised our children. He probably ruined many lives. We may never know. He hurts our people, young and old… and you that knew him let him do it.

      • Whodatis says:

        Re: "But the truth is, all of you that were so close to him did absolutely nothing to help him …"

        (Wow! God … is that you?!)

        Actually, I almost took the bait on this one, but I soon realized that this was a wind up.

        Nice try though – I'll sort you out later.

    • dontgothere says:

      Not sure it was a good idea to know of your friend's lifetsyle but you sat back and let it continue. Did it ever occur to you how many people (the invisible ones who didn't give you a grin and a hug) were going to suffer at the end of the chain because of him?

      "(Personally, had I been in the position to do so I would have given him a chance in a heartbeat – unlike 99% of the other individuals caught up in his lifestyle.)"

      Inconvenient you couldn't help him, but a nice sentiment. Hey, I know, how about you go ahead and choose another young drug dealer and help HIM out instead. You know, instead of just talkin your usual cr*p, get off yor butt and make a difference in a small way.

      For me, I'm off to go counsel some foreign property developers, if I can get them out of all those closed-door meetings with MLAs that is………

      • Whodatis says:

        Your comment is dripping with a basic dislike of "Whodatis" therefore I won't waste much more time addressing the likes of you.

        There is not an ounce of sincerity in your words.

        You really shouldn't have bothered posting your comment.

        Bye.

  20. Anonymous says:

    I like the bit about "calling the police back". Good job RCIPS.

  21. The Crown says:

    Good!  It will be a triumphant day when that destroyer is no longer a part of Cayman society.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Coke Dealer Jailed for 8 Years — oh my tweet, poor ting!  🙁

  23. Anonymous says:

    What Bonillo said is true – big guys (the police in this case I guess) need to talk to BIG GUYS.  But somehow the police never seem to get to the BiG GUYS – wonder why?

  24. Anonymous says:

    I knew Osmand since he was a child – let's just say I'm not surprised.