Former Deputy Commissioner of Tax Services Returns to Belize after serving time in US prison

Former Deputy Commissioner of Tax Services, Reynaldo Verde is back in Belize.  Verde made news back in 2019 when he was detained by US authorities.  His detention was due to a complaint made by an American businessman, accusing him of extortion, among other crimes.  Verde returned to the country today.  Assigned to receive Verde at the international airport was Attorney-at-Law, Michael Peyrefitte.

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, UDP: “He served his time and he came back to Belize today and so he’s once again a free man. It’s standard procedure under the law that you know you go through these interviews with the police department as a courtesy mostly but there is a deportation act and so that is what we had to do today and he’s fine he’s home with his family. I’m not aware of any of the circumstances concerning the actual case in the US. All I know is I will say to make sure that his rights were respected once he landed in Belize as a Belizean citizens. The details of the case itself in the US I am not aware of those. From what I observed he’s glad to be home and in good spirits and glad to be home. I was there to meet him at the airport and he had his family there to meet him at the airport yes.”

Back in 2021, Verde took a plea deal with the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and served time in prison.  Peyrefitte could not say if Verde will try to clear his name in the matter, or if he will let it go or if he will seek any compensation for his years in the public service.  

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, UDP: “All I know is I was asked to just be present at the airport to have his rights be respected as a Belizean who has served time abroad. In terms of compensation and all of that other civil aspect of his life now I am not involved in that at all. Pretty much I have done what I was asked to do and all of that other stuff I think he would take care of separately in his own time.”