An Israeli-American visitor has been given a suspended sentence after admitting money laundering offences.

Jeff Bajayo, 67, from New York, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing $11,103 cash and a Rolex watch, worth $23,900, that he knew to represent, wholly or partially, the proceeds of criminal conduct, on a date between March 5 and March 8.

He also admitted possessing a second Rolex, worth $8,050, representing the proceeds of crime on December 19 last year.

Prosecutors offered no evidence against his younger brother, 59-year-old Eli Bajayo, who had been charged alongside him in connection to the offences in March.

Prosecutor Alan Richardson told the court that the elder brother first visited the Island on December 16 last year, leaving on December 20. On December 19, he and another man went to Crisson’s, where they purchased the Rolex using a gift certificate and $7,300 of cash.

Jeff Bajayo returned to the Island on March 5, this time travelling with his younger brother. Just before 5pm that day, the brothers went to the Crisson jewellery store, where they asked to look at a Rolex Yachtmaster 2.

They returned the next day and bought the watch using cash. He also bought earrings valued at $343.75 and received a duplicate receipt for the watch purchased during their first visit.

On March 8, the brothers went to LF Wade International Airport for a flight to the United States when they were stopped and searched by US Customs.

Jeff Bajayo had $5,605 in cash, including $2,550 in Bermudian bills, while Eli had $5,498, $2,700 of which was in Bermudian bills. The elder Bajayo was also wearing the new Rolex, which still had protective transparent stickers on the face and strap.

The search also uncovered a business card with the name of Iliana Medina written on it. Medina pleaded guilty this year to money laundering charges and was sentenced by Magistrates’ Court to ten weeks in prison.

Jeff Bajayo initially denied the charges but later admitted knowing the money represented the proceeds of criminal activity.

While the specific criminal activity was not specified in court, Mr Richardson said that for the purposes of sentencing, the acknowledgment of the money’s criminal origin was sufficient.

The prosecutor noted that Bajayo had agreed to sign a forfeiture order regarding both the cash and the more expensive Rolex, however the watch bought in December was no longer available to him.

He called for a sentence of six months in prison but defence lawyer Susan Mulligan argued for any sentence to be suspended.

She told the court that Bajayo accepted that he acted with “wilful ignorance” and that his prolonged stay on the Island as a result of the charges had drained away his life savings.

Ms Mulligan added that both brothers had been struggling with medical conditions and would like to receive treatment in the US.

“He should have asked more questions,” she said. “He should have asked where the money was coming from. The circumstances were certainly suspicious.

“He should have asked questions but he didn’t and he is now paying the price for that. His life is forever changed and he will likely never return to Bermuda, much less be involved in something like this again.”

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons said that money laundering was a serious offence which enabled the underlying criminal activity.

However, in this case a sentence of three months in prison, suspended by one year, would be appropriate.

•It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases.