Mavado gave Movado watches for visa?

KINGSTON Gleaner:

Artiste thanked US official for visa on radio

TEN DAYS after a Jamaican entertainer was reissued with a United States visa after he bribed a law-enforcement official to assist him, the DJ purchased two Movado brand watches for the official. The DJ also publicly thanked the security official for his assistance during a radio interview.

The entertainer is named in a court document as D.B. The court document also lists the artiste's manager as J.J.G.

David J. Rainsberger, 32, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in federal court in Alexandria to receiving unlawful gratuities while stationed at the US Embassy in Kingston, and making false statements to the United States government on a national-security questionnaire.

"Sometime after April 2010, the defendant developed a close and personal relationship with D.B., a citizen of Jamaica who was a well-known musician both within Jamaica and elsewhere, and J.J.G., a citizen of the United Kingdom residing in Jamaica, who was D.B.'s business manager.

"At the time the defendant began his relationship with D.B. and J.J.G., D.B. had been declared ineligible for a visa to enter the US on account of accusations that he had been involved in criminal activity. D.B. and J.J.G. desired to have D.B.'s visa ineligibility removed so that D.B. could travel to the United States and take advantage of lucrative performance and recording opportunities.

"Within Jamaica, the defendant accompanied D.B. and J.J.G. to nightclubs, concerts, and parties, which other embassy law-enforcement officials also frequently attended.

OTHER GIFTS

"On account of his relationship with D.B. and J.J.G., the defendant received free of charge, admission to nightclubs and backstage access to concerts at which D.B. was performing. D.B., along with other well-known Jamaican musicians, also hosted and paid for a birthday gathering for the defendant and several of his friends.

"In or about June 2011, the defendant reported to embassy officials adjudicating D.B.'s pending application for a visa to enter the United States that based on his investigation of D.B., as the assistant regional security officer for investigations and that of other embassy law-enforcement officials, D.B's prior ineligibility should be eliminated.

"At no time did the defendant disclose to those officials the extent of his close and personal relationship with D.B. or J.J.G. or that he had received things of value due to his relationship with D.B. and J.J.G.

"On or about June 21, 2011, relying primarily on the defendant's representation regarding his investigations of D.B., embassy officials granted D.B.'s application for a visa to enter the United States.

CELEBRATED RETURN

"On or about June 30, 2011, the defendant contacted officials at the United States Department of Homeland Security to facilitate D.B.'s entry into the United States at the JFK International Airport in New York City.

"On or about July 1, 2011, on his way back to Jamaica from an official trip to London, the defendant travelled to New York City to join D.B. and J.J.G. in their celebration of D.B.'s return to the United States.

"While in New York City, D.B. appeared as a guest on a radio show and publicly thanked the United States government, the defendant and others for their assistance in helping him to obtain a visa to enter the United States. Also, while in New York City, D.B. purchased for the defendant shoes, clothing and two Movado brand luxury watches worth approximately US$2,500," court documents say.