CONTROVERSIA Help us
Portrait not available

Born in Jamaica · Nationality Jamaican — Crime / mafias / terrorism / criminal cases

Vivian Blake

Organised crime and cartels

Documented profile covering 10 controversies, including “2010: death in Kingston after heart attack, ending possibility of future personal proceedings” and “2009: release after approximately eight years followed by deportation to Jamaica”.

Are you concerned? Right of reply

Profile No. 2552 · Updated on 12 October 2026

10Documented controversies
10Sources
1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

21 March 2010

2010: death in Kingston after heart attack, ending possibility of future personal proceedings

No legal proceedings

Blake died at the University Hospital of the West Indies following a heart attack; relatives also said that he suffered from kidney disease and received dialysis.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Jamaica ObserverFormer Shower Posse boss Vivian Blake diesPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Associated Press / BETFounder of Jamaica's Infamous Shower Posse, Vivian Blake, DiesNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

Case · 9 documented stages

2009: release after approximately eight years followed by deportation to Jamaica

Conviction
02

29 January 2009

2009: release after approximately eight years followed by deportation to Jamaica

Conviction

After approximately eight years in US custody, Blake was released and deported to Jamaica. On arrival in Kingston, he was taken to the Criminal Investigation Branch for administrative processing before being released.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Jamaica GleanerVivian Blake back in JamaicaPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Associated Press / BETFounder of Jamaica's Infamous Shower Posse, Vivian Blake, DiesNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

03

2000

2000: guilty plea to racketeering, conspiracy and cocaine offences, with cooperation agreement

Conviction

Blake pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering, conspiracy and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. His agreement provided for extensive cooperation with federal authorities concerning drug and money networks and the possibility of testifying before grand juries.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesWar on Drugs in Caribbean Finds an Ally in Old EnemyPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Washington PostNation in Brief — Vivian Blake sentenced under plea bargainPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

04

5 September 2000

2000: federal sentence of 28 years' imprisonment under plea bargain

Conviction

A federal judge in Miami sentenced Blake to 28 years in prison. Prosecutors explained that this comparatively reduced sentence reflected his cooperation agreement and the value of the information provided.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesWar on Drugs in Caribbean Finds an Ally in Old EnemyPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Washington PostNation in Brief — Vivian Blake sentenced under plea bargainPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

May–8 July 1999

1999: final appeal fails, followed by extradition from Jamaica to Miami

Formally charged

After the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council declined to hear a further appeal, Jamaican authorities handed Blake over to US Marshals in July 1999. He was transferred to Miami to face the longstanding federal charges.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Associated Press / Cayman CompassJa. extradites Vivian Blake to USNews agencyHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesU.S. Facing Trial to Build Case Against Alleged Drug LordPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

27 July 1998

1998: Jamaican Court of Appeal upholds decision permitting extradition

Formally charged

The Jamaican Court of Appeal dismissed Blake's appeal against his continued detention for extradition, finding, in particular, that the evidence presented supported maintaining the magistrate's decision.

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Court of Appeal of Jamaica / vLexBlake v The Director of Public Prosecution et AlCourt recordVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

5 July 1995–11 October 1996

1995–1996: extradition order followed by dismissal of habeas corpus application

Formally charged

A St Andrew resident magistrate ordered Blake's detention pending extradition on 5 July 1995. In October 1996, Jamaica's Supreme Court dismissed his habeas corpus application challenging the measure.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    vLex Jamaica / Supreme Court recordBlake, VivianCourt recordVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Supreme Court of JamaicaR v DPP, Director of Correctional Service, ex parte Vivian BlakeCourt recordVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

1994

1994: arrest in Jamaica at US extradition request

Formally charged

After several years in Jamaica, Blake was arrested in Kingston pursuant to the US extradition request and detained during the lengthy legal battle that followed.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Associated Press / Cayman CompassJa. extradites Vivian Blake to USNews agencyHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesU.S. Facing Trial to Build Case Against Alleged Drug LordPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

09

1982–1988

1982–1988: leadership of Shower Posse's US operations and cocaine trafficking network

Conviction

US and Jamaican extradition records described Blake as one of the leaders of an extensive Shower Posse cocaine and marijuana distribution network in the United States. His 2000 plea agreement subsequently included admission of a leadership role in the gang.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    vLex Jamaica / Supreme Court recordBlake, VivianCourt recordVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesWar on Drugs in Caribbean Finds an Ally in Old EnemyPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

10

1988

1988: extensive federal indictment of Shower Posse followed by departure from United States

Formally charged

A 1988 federal indictment targeted Blake and numerous alleged Shower Posse members for racketeering, drug trafficking and other offences. US authorities maintained that he had left the United States for Jamaica aboard a cruise ship to evade arrest.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Associated Press / Cayman CompassJa. extradites Vivian Blake to USNews agencyHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesU.S. Facing Trial to Build Case Against Alleged Drug LordPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (1)
  1. Lester Lloyd Coke1 documented reference

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.

Support the archive

Controversia checks and updates its profiles independently. Support is optional and has no effect on the content of profiles.

Donate

Update request

Vivian Blake

Say which controversy is concerned and, if possible, give a source. Between 10 and 2,500 characters.

0 / 2500

To prevent abuse, the approximate location of your connection is recorded with your request.

iPhone and iPad

Install Controversia

  1. Tap Share
  2. then Add to Home Screen

Tap Share, then Add to Home Screen.