Just two days after United States of America (USA) citizen Jason James Grogg was released from the Dominica State Prison, after his payment of $25,000.00 for firearm and ammunition charges, the 44-year-old man has been rearrested.
On May 4, 2023, Grogg was intercepted at the Douglas Charles Airport shortly after 4:00 p.m. by customs officers.
Grogg was en route to Barbados for three days to have a meeting with the US Consulate over his previous run-ins with the law, Dominica News Online (DNO) has been informed.
Subsequent to his arrest at the airport, he was transported to the holding cells at the Roseau Police Station where he was informed that he was under arrest for suspicion of “breach of customs acts 69:01.”
The mother of Jason James Grogg, Becky Grogg who spoke exclusively to DNO, dubbed his arrest an abuse of process by the customs official.
“My husband and I arrived in Dominica on April 19 for vacation, but our experience so far has not been enjoyable having to deal with this ordeal.”
She continued, “I am a firm believer that when you make a mistake you take responsibility for it which my son has done, but anything beyond that is totally unacceptable. My son has paid for his mistakes, and he should not have to spend one more day in any prison anywhere on this island; he has already spent 17 days in jail in Dominica.”
“We were told that Jason missed a 3 o’clock meeting with Customs yesterday. Neither Jason nor his lawyers have a record of a phone call or email from customs stating a meeting was scheduled and that is not grounds for an arrest,” Becky posited.
She contends that her son’s constitutional rights have been infringed and his intentions were never to violate the laws in Dominica. While Becky says information has not been forthcoming from either customs officials or the police, upon further investigation, DNO spoke to a reliable source who provided some insight on the matter.
According to the customs official, apart from the firearm and ammunition offenses, Grogg was under further investigation for false declaration.
The source stated that Grogg allegedly imported a vehicle into Dominica under the guise of the nonprofit group Feed My Sheep (FMS), which exempted him from payment of duties at the port. However, upon investigation, customs became aware that the said vehicle is in his possession.
The source further disclosed that Customs is seeking a deportation order against Grogg. On May 2, 2023, Jason James Grogg was fined $25,000.00 following his earlier guilty plea to possession of one black and grey Glock 19 pistol, 15 live rounds of 9mm ammunition, and four Glock 19 magazines each containing 15 rounds of ammunition found at his home in Belfast Mahaut on April 17 and 18, 2023.
Additionally, seventeen rounds of 20-gauge Winchester ammunition and the two camouflage magazine pouches, each containing two (2) 5.56 magazines, with each magazine containing 30 rounds of ammunition totalling one hundred and twenty rounds (120) of 5.56 ammunition were found in a container he possessed.
Following the fine imposed by the court, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Sherma Dalrymple, told the court that the prosecution was offering no further evidence on both complaints of trafficking against Grogg and his wife Jennifer Elaine Grogg and both complaints were struck off for Want of Prosecution.
Awa wi, why punish the man he is waving his hands so holy like a priest, he can’t do these fings.
This guy is a mastermind and had it all planned out just in case he got caught..He used innocent people as shields to cover up his dirty work. He made sure that he helped out in enough places to build his good reputation just in case he needed proof but was scheming all along Perhaps he isnt working alone and there are others involved ith him in smuggling and other illegal activites . If this Jason guy’s intentions were right from the start, he would not have manipulated how he went about getting items in the country under false pretense. He would not be in jail of he would have been truthful up front..
This case must be handled properly and used as an example to send a strong message to anyone trying to defraud the government and the kind people of Dominica 🇩🇲.
I agree that Take fella is a UWP aholes.Angello Allen told Dominicans the DC Airport was being extended to be used as Venezuelan military base.Years later Dominicans have not seen a Venezuelan fighter jet.In 1983 there was a C-130 Hercules on the Melvillehall airport to take Dominican police officers to Grenada.And years later we have another ahole posting about Chinese military base.Bottom Bailey,Skerrit cannot be tough on crime,the law can be tough on crime.Skerrit cannot make law, parliament can,with the signature of the President.It is a good thing the majority the majority of Dominicans can read and understand.Tell is where and when customs searched a person home without a warrant?Grogg was arrested at the airport,is he in the custody of the police,or in the custody of the customs?
This is some crap, how does he or anyone thinks they can come to Dominica with a fire arm. He is wrong and wrong is wrong. You cant even fly in the US with it.
Yes you can it will just fly with you in your checked luggage
He can be charged by customs for making a false declaration.But they put the cart before the horse.Customs should first search the container,and thing that is not declared should be seized.Drugs,arms and firearm is a matter for the police.Example if a car tyre is not declared to customs,the police cannot arrest the individual for not declaring the tyre.Customs on the own cannot execute a warrant it must be a joint operation,customs/police.Everytime customs has reason to believe illegal items are imported into Dominica,the police must be informed.A few years ago guns were found in a barrel at the deep water harbour,the police was called and police made a mess of the whole thing.If Grogg pleads notguilty he must be set free.There is no evidence that there was more in the container than what was declared to customs while it was in there custody.The customs failed badly.The burden of proof is on customs and they cannot use his guilty plea in the police case against him.
Just deport the man back to America and make sure before he departs that all his guns and ammunition have been confiscated. We do not need this type of people living in our peaceful country. Letting him continue to live there would only set an egregious precedent. Time to go Jason Grogg.
@ds, Jason must pay for all crimes committed in Dominica and against the laws of Dominica before he’s deported. You are right that we don’t need his kind in Dominica but he must pay for his crimes committed here before he’s sent packing.
So if a US citizen is arrested while trying to go to the nearest US embassy to tell them about his previous arrest and fine then the US embassy should come to Dominica to meet with him and while here they should visit the alleged China Military base In Wesley under the Fake name of international airport
@My little take
Even if it was a military base, what can America do about it? NOTHING!! And for your knowledge, the Chinese would have all their right to prevent such a visit.
America has bases all over the world.
Just educate yourself!
“And for your knowledge, the Chinese would have all their right to prevent such a visit.”….Excuse me??????
Who the hell do you and the Chinese think they are? Even saying the Chinese have a right to prevent a visit by the USA? Man you all have lost it in Dca. If that is the way labourites and supporters of the PM are thinking then the good Dr. Blessings is right, time for the entire government to go by any means necessary. I used to doubt Dr. Dale Dangleben when he said we are a Chinese colony but you have just proved him right. Things are starting to get very very scary in our land.
@Bwa-Banday
You seem to be the sick one here. How can the Chinese be doing their project and would allow Americans to visit it? To do what? Are you a kindergarten babe? Occupy your time posting things that make sense. You are simply deranged!!
Are you Dumb? The Chinese would have NO RIGHT to “prevent such a visit”. They are thousands of miles away from their country and have ZERO authority in Dominica. Damn ars!
Boy grow up and stop talking dogs s**t your comments stink!!!!
That comment was ment for: My little take.
That kind of pressure and arrest is pure foolishness. To me it sounds like the typical Skerrit/ China presser against US nationals. If a car was given to him under false declaration the car should’ve been seized by customs and have him to pay the fines. Furthermore, if his car was given duty free under false declaration then we have a lot of cars that ought to be seized and a lot of people that ought to be arrested for getting vehicles under the agriculture laws when they are no damn farmers. We have a lot of damn FA vehicles on the road and many of them aren’t farmers. It is a government abusing the system to ensure Laborites are rewarded while known farmers that don’t support Skerrit cannot get fertilizer, small business loans or FA cars duty free. So if customs arresting people for getting duty free under false declaration then I expect them to arrest some of those fake Skerrit farmers that getting FA cars. Trust me I have some names and plate numbers I will ask about later
No law no vonstitution
I am no supporter of Skerrit, but that has absolutely nothing to do with China versus USA….That hatred you all have for China is just blinding you all thought processes! I like the massive strides that China has made, as it was once an impoverished country!
That’s a legal matter. Let the court system determine what happens. The man is repredented by his lawyers, if his rights are abused, or violated, then he, through his lawyers, knows what to do.
Stop your foolishness about China and USA! That’s totally fake!
“My husband and I arrived in Dominica on April 19 for vacation, but our experience so far has not been enjoyable having to deal with this ordeal” This ordeal? The audacity of these people…The ordeal is that he broke the law, committed a crime and therefore your trip to Dominica is no longer a vacation.
“I am a firm believer that when vou make a mistake vou take responsibility for it which my son has done, but anything beyond that is totally unacceptable. My son has paid for his mistakes, and he should not have to spend one more day in any prison anywhere on this island, he has already spent 17 days in jail in Dominica.”
A mistake is throwing a rock and breaking someone’s window. Importing guns and ammunition into a country under the pretense of some God, is not a mistake, it is a premeditated act in an event to circumvent the law. Jason Grogg already got off easy. The CDPF should elicit the help of the FBI to investigate this one. Maybe another Bayou of…
Depot him. People like that are turning the vibes of Dominica into that of the USA. Take your guns, crimes and go back. Dominicans need to reject people like that.
Let a Dominican commit that type of crime in the us…
What is it with these US citizens that go to other countries and commit crimes and think because they are carrying a US passport they are special? Dominican authorities need to contact the US ATF to see if he has any other offenses in the US. Why was he bringing firearms into Dominica was he planning a coup?
Look, I don’t even pretend to know who did what but we made a right pig’s ear of this. The man was sentenced, fined, paid and set free. I also know that customs are not part of the police but tax collectors and have more power than the police for they do not need a warrant to come and search your premises. Whatever this man’s motives were, he is an American citizen and the way we handled this will one again send a negative message to the world that somehow, somewhere the beauty of Dominica will bite you, if not swallow you without trace. This reflects badly on us and we could have handled this better.
@Toto
What would you say if he was a Russian, or Chinese citizen? Would you be spewing that filth? You would be saying hang him..
Your hypocrite!
You are a wicked fake!! Get out of here!!
“My husband and I arrived in Dominica on April 19 for vacation, but our experience so far has not been enjoyable having to deal with this ordeal.” This ordeal? The audacity of these people…The ordeal is that he broke the law, committed a crime and therefore your trip to Dominica is no longer a vacation.
“I am a firm believer that when you make a mistake you take responsibility for it which my son has done, but anything beyond that is totally unacceptable. My son has paid for his mistakes, and he should not have to spend one more day in any prison anywhere on this island, he has already spent 17 days in jail in Dominica.”
A mistake is throwing a rock and breaking someone’s window. Importing guns and ammunition into a country under the pretense of some God, is not a mistake, it is a premeditated act in an event to circumvent the law. Jason Grogg already got off easy. The CDPF should elicit the help of the FBI to investigate this one. Maybe another Bayou of Pigs attempt…
A suspect, with criminal and religious intent.
Religion is not infrequently a cover for a need to control others, nefarious intentions, if not deeds.
What if….
* What if Mr Grogg and his lawyers knew of the possible Charges Customs was preparing.
* What if Mr Grogg’s got special legal advice on how to evade those charges by leaving the country under the guise of meeting at the U.S. Embassy?
* What if Customs requested that Mr. Grogg come in to discuss some very serious false Declaration matters at a date and time given by his Lawyer but magically they were a no show but was later arrested trying to leave the state?
* What if Mr Grogg has been using a local Non Profit Organization for his Person gain and robbing the state of Revenue?
* What if Mr Grogg doesn’t recieve the special treatment when facing the charges from Customs?
* What if only time will tell…….
Criminals do not take jail in Dominica, the judicial system only wants money. I thought skerrit was getting tough on gun crime is this tough. The grand bay drug smuggler made his own fine he said I can pay$100,000 the judge then reduced it to $50,000, my god man what kind of place is this.
Now custom’s want their share. Most corrupt judicial system in the Caribbean and beyond. Blackmore soon come and look for his cut to. Chupes
Well i am learning.
From what i have read, it seem like both customs and the police can independently charge one for violating the law, re what comes onto our ports. Previously, i thought they were working as a team, but this Grogg matter has proven me wrong..
Hope that piecemeal method of dealing with this matter is legal…I do believe that if one violates the law, then he has to face some sort of punishment..
I keep listening!!
Customs is customs and police is police. Where do Dominicans come off trying to tell customs when to arrest? I am trying to understand this but I just cant. Which law states that customs had to charge him while in custody? Thats what you may prefer but what makes it law? Focus people! Grogg broke a serious law. If he was local do you think he would get off so easy? Dominicans really act as shark family smh!