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DEA: Diplomatic Note Requesting Extradition

No. 296

The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Government of Jamaica and has the honor to request the extradition of Christopher Michael COKE, aka Michael Christopher Coke, Paul Christopher Scott, Duddus, President, Presi, Short Man, and Gereral.

The Embassy has the further honor to submit one original certified, authenticated and three copies of documents supporting the extradition request of Christopher Michael Coke.

The Embassy also requests seizure of all articles, instruments, objects of value, documents or other evidence relating to the offenses for surrender with the fugitive if extradition to the United States is granted.

COKE is wanted to stand trial on narcotics charges in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He is the subject of superseding indictment number S15 07 Cr. 917 (RPP), filed on February 19, 2009, charging him with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine, in violation of 21 USC 812, 841 (a) (1), 841 (b) (1) (A), and 846; and conspiracy to traffic in firearms, in violation of 18 USC 371 and 922 (a) (1) (A). On February 19, 2009, a warrant for Coke's arrest, number Sl507Cr. 971 (RPP), was issued by the order of Debra Freeman, United States
 Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York.

The facts of this case indicate that from the mid-1990s through and including October 2007, COKE headed an illegal organization based in Jamaica, with members in the United States and elsewhere (the “Organization”). COKE serves as the area leader of a part of Kingston, Jamaica, known as Tivoli Gardens. COKE maintains his powerful position in Tivoli Gardens and within this international Organization in part because of his wealth and his access to firearms.

In the time frame described above, COKE agreed with others to distribute cocaine and marijuana, as charged in Count One of the Indictment. COKE arranged for females from Jamaica to "body-carry" cocaine from Jamaica to the New York area, where it was sold in the Bronx, New York, sometimes in the form of crack cocaine. Recorded telephone calls, along with other evidence, reflect COKE's involvement in cocaine trafficking. In addition, COKE arranged for drug traffickers located in the New York area to distribute marijuana on his behalf, who then provided COKE with profits of those sales. The United States' evidence with respect to this aspect of the conspiracy includes numerous recorded conversations, as well as seizures of marijuana and drug proceeds. This same evidence reflects that COKE assisted the drug traffickers in their businesses in the United States, including consultations with the drug traffickers on issues such as the collection of drug debts.

These same drug traffickers not only provided COKE with proceeds obtained from drug trafficking, but also purchased firearms for him and his Organization and arranged to have the firearms sent to COKE in Jamaica, as charged in Count Two of the Indictment. This conduct is evidenced by, inter alia, intercepted conversations involving discussion of the types and number of firearms shipped, and their distribution on arrival in Jamaica.

Please note that the indictment and warrant have been unsealed for extradition and law enforcement purposes.

The offenses with which the fugitive is charged are felonies under the laws of the United States punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, and are covered under Article II of the extradition Treaty Between the United States and Jamaica, signed on June 14, 1983 and entered into force July 7, 1991. Seizure and surrender of property is covered under Article XVI of the Treaty.

COKE is a citizen of Jamaica, born on March 13, 1969. He is described as a black male, standing approximately 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighing approximately150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. His Jamaican passport number is 1870159 and his tax registration number is 116275669 and 115-513-051. A photograph of COKE is included with the extradition documents.

The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Government of Jamaica the assurances of its highest consideration.

Embassy of the United States of America Kingston, Jamaica, August 25, 2009.


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