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They were Money Gram agents but in January police charged the Coye family with money laundering after they found $1.5 million dollars stuffed in suitcases inside the family’s home on Johnson Street. The father 62 year old Michael Coye, his wife 55 year old Marlene Coye, their 33 year old daughter Melonie Coye and son Jude were all hauled off to court. Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie released the family on bail of $50,000 each – on the condition that they surrender their travel documents and reported to the clerk of court weekly.

That condition was explicit – which is why it’s big news tonight that despite that – the Coye’s have been freely moving in and out of the country since they were released on bail. The Guardian Newspaper broke the story today that on February 15th Melonie Coye left Belize enroute to Costa Rica and returned on the 26th. The paper says that she again left on March 8th and returned on 15th March. And while it was the headline in The Guardian – the family’s attorney Dickie Bradley says it is much ado about nothing. In fact he confirmed that Jude Coye and the mother have also left and returned since their release. He says the trips were court approved and routine.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney for Coye Family
“In the case of three of those persons who have been charged for the single offense, that has taken place. They have all made applications, they have all been given their travel documents, they’ve left the country on the day they said they needed to go, they returned on the date they gave the court, they surrendered their travel documents, and they continued to abide by all the conditions. So if it has emerged somewhere that in the case of Melonie she had to leave the country, as recent as yesterday evening myself and attorney Arthur Saldivar were in conference with herself and other members of her family. So there is nothing unusual and there is nothing unlawful.”

Keith Swift,
Why did she need to leave the country?

Richard “Dickie” Bradley,
“Well it is probably their personal grounds, there is no need for me to disclose that but I have said to you that in the case of the mommy, she had indicated right then and there in the court. In the case of Melonie she needed to go to a country in Central America.

Melonie would have met all the conditions in the first instance and shown a legitimate reason to leave the country again for a very short period and there would be no reason to restrict a person from leaving the country. Remember that they had to put up a bound for $50,000 each and nobody just goes and breaks their conditions where you will lose the $50,000 and you’re going to go to prison if you break any conditions.”

Keith Swift,
And so Jude Coye also left the country?

Richard “Dickie” Bradley,
“Yes. Jude was in fact in the United States of America when his name was placed on a charge sheet and the charges were read out without him being present. That person contacted me. I informed him that what the family has said to him is so and that as soon as he can see himself as allowing to return to the country from whatever he is doing in America he is to come. He came and he surrendered himself and he was processed and he went to court and he went under the same conditions for $50,000 for each one of them for $50,000.”

Keith Swift,
And he got the ok too to leave the country?

Richard “Dickie” Bradley,
“Yes he had to go back to America, he only came in to answer the charges.”

Keith Swift,
We were told he went to get cars because he is a car dealer.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley,
“Well I hope so that that not because somebody alleges something about you, you can no longer do your business. He has to continue to look after his family and to live and to work and to bring nice vehicles for our citizens like yourself.”

Also additionally charged were James Gerou, Melonie’s boyfriend who is an American – and Ernest Raymond Jr. Bradley says police have changed the locks on the family’s Money Gram store at the corner of Mahogany Street and Central American Boulevard.