Legal Victory Scored against Ferguson in U.S. courts

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Re: LEGAL VICTORY SCORED AGAINST FERGUSON IN US COURTS

The State has scored another significant victory against businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson. This time in the US courts.

The Attorney General has been pursuing several civil cases against Steve Ferguson for violations of the Florida Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (“RICO”), the Florida Civil Remedies for Criminal Practices Act, and related claims against numerous corporate entities and individuals arising out of the racketeering acts regarding the rigging of bids in Florida, the making of corrupt payments from Florida, fraudulent bidding practices in Florida and deployed from Florida, and the laundering of proceeds through and into Florida in relation to the construction of the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad.

The Attorney General wishes to confirm the fact that the United States Supreme Court has denied the Petition for Writ of Certiorari filed by Steve Ferguson with the United States’ highest tribunal on 4 December 2012. Petitions for Writ of Certiorari are requests to the United States Supreme Court asking the Supreme Court to review the decision of a lower court.  The Ferguson Petition for Writ of Certiorari, which sought review of a decision by the intermediate appellate court of Florida, was denied.

Steve Ferguson’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari followed the State’s successful prosecution of a motion to compel Steve Ferguson to respond to its discovery requests in the civil case pending before the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Miami.  As part of that litigation, the State simultaneously defeated a motion by Steve Ferguson to stay the same discovery pending resolution of the criminal case against him here in Trinidad.   The grounds asserted by Steve Ferguson in support of the requested stay included, among others, certain constitutional arguments about the protections afforded under the United States Constitution to persons fearing or facing criminal prosecution.  Following the first instance court’s rulings in favour of the State, Steve Ferguson appealed to the Florida Third District Court of Appeals where a three Judge appellate panel received extensive briefing and heard oral argument before affirming the lower court’s rulings in favour of the State.

These hard fought victories in the Florida courts and the United States Supreme Court’s denial of Steve Ferguson’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari clear the way for the State to continue its civil litigation in Florida which we expect, will result in a significant civil judgment in favour of the State and its citizens and against Steve Ferguson and the other named defendants.

ANAND RAMLOGAN, S.C.,

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

THURSDAY 10^th APRIL, 2013.