The husband of United Bermuda Party deputy leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin has been arrested in America on suspicion of money laundering and conspiracy.

According to reports from the Daily Record in Chatham, New Jersey, Dennis Pamplin, 57, was arrested with two other men, Ronald Ellis, a 38-year old Bermudian, and Mark Small, 40, of New York, last Tuesday.

Police seized more than $98,000 in cash in what they call "a possible drug deal gone wrong".

However, Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said in an email to the UBP and the media her "worthless husband" was caught in a mix-up.

Reports from New Jersey say two Chevrolet sport vehicles were involved in a high-speed chase heading west along Route 24 and may have been involved in an accident on August 28. The vehicles were seen pulling over by the Passaic Avenue overpass, according to reports.

When Chatham Police arrived, two men ran from the vehicles into the woods. According to the Daily Record officer Larry Dillon caught up with the men who were later identified as Small and Ellis. The men accused each other of robbery when Officer Dillon approached them.

Small and Ellis both had in their possession white envelopes, one with cash coming out. The envelopes were taken from them as the third man, Pamplin, stayed with the vehicles. Police searched the vehicles and found more white envelopes, the Daily Record reported. They were also confiscated and all three men were taken in for questioning.

The money, totalling more than $98,000, was sniffed by a narcotics dog revealing the alleged presence of drug residue.

Reports said the money was seized because of the alleged presence of drug residue.

Officers searched the vehicles and the surrounding area but found no drugs.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said in the email she was notified of her husband's arrest by her step-daughter on Friday afternoon. She had left Bermuda on Thursday and hadn't spoken to Pamplin since Tuesday morning.

She said she visited him in a detention centre on Saturday and heard a different story from him.

Pamplin told her that Ellis asked Small to get him a mixing board for a band he was bringing into Bermuda. He runs Cottonmouth Entertainment.

Ellis had to pay for the mixer and the band in cash. He drove with Small while Pamplin followed to drive Ellis back.

According to Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin, the trio stopped at KFC to eat. Once they left the restaurant, Small noticed Ellis had left his money in his car and he drove off.

When Ellis realized his money was being stolen, he got into Pamplin's car and a high-speed chase began. Small got out his vehicle when the tire blew and ran off with Ellis following him on foot. She said her husband stayed in his vehicle because the situation had nothing to do with him. The men were given $75,000 bail each with no ten per cent option. They were unable to post the amount and were sent to the Morris County jail.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin explained the bail was set high because of the amount of cash the men were found with. Pamplin was found with $47,000 but said only $24 was his and the rest belonged to Ellis.

She added in the email: "That is as much as I know. Dennis will meet bail on Tuesday through his own sources and will then be able to advise me further. His concern is that there may be embarrassment for me and for the party.

"You can trust me that I am not embarrassed as I do not take responsibility for other people's actions. Once he has a court appearance, I guess the whole story will be told. I am fine - my husband knows that I do not do bail, neither do I do jail, so in this matter he is on his own. I just don't know if I can take any more drama from Mr. Drama King Pamplin!

"I will keep everybody posted once I have more information, but in the meantime, I am going to watch the US Open tennis and will return home on Tuesday a.m. as scheduled.

"You may share this information with anyone who is concerned and I apologize if there is negativity attached to the party emanating from my worthless husband. I will send a copy of this to the press as I have no problem explaining what I know."

In a statement yesterday Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley said: "I have been made aware of the incident involving Mr. Dennis Pamplin, husband of our Deputy Leader Mrs. Pat Gordon-Pamplin. I have been in communication with Pat who was off the Island on business when she learned of the incident."

"This is a matter Mr. Pamplin will have to resolve himself. But in my conversation with Pat, I told her of our support for her during what must be a very difficult time. Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin is due back on Tuesday, and I am sure she will be available to answer any question from the press at that time."