Former Don Dudus Turns to God pursuing a theology course in prison

Six years ago, the tough-talking Camille ‘Sandy’ Coke was regarded as one of the most influential women of the troubled and poverty-stricken West Kingston community, where she and her siblings grew up.

So, when the security forces were sent to execute an extradition warrant on her older brother, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, the former Tivoli Gardens strongman, in May 2010, she was among a number of persons who were rounded up and taken into custody. Languishing behind the bars of the Duhaney Park Police Station lock-up for several months, and with her hopes of freedom fading, she became desperate. With nowhere else to turn, she said she fell into the comfortable arms of God.

Today, the prayer warrior is no longer influencing people in a negative way, but is busy inthe streets praying and encouraging others to follow in the path of Jesus Christ. But she is not the only one of the Coke clan who has decided to turn to Jesus.

Her sibling, Dudus, who was extradited to the United States on drug-related crimes, is pursuing a theology course in prison, she said.

Camille Coke did not provide details about her brother’s theology course. However, she said, “I have been praying for them (Dudus and another brother Leighton ‘Livity’ Coke). I prayed and ask the Lord to transform the heart of Dudus when he is about to be released. It is the same prayers I prayed for Livity when he was in jail for four years. Look at him now. He is not the same person. He has been attending church, and if you ever hear him pray, you cannot believe it is the same Livity.”

Her prayers are to one day see her two brothers, Dudus and Livity, become powerful men of God, preaching the word.

The hunt for Dudus provoked violence among his supporters in West Kingston. More than 70 persons were killed controversially during an alleged gunfight between men loyal to him and members of the security forces. Scores of persons, including his siblings and spouse, were hauled behind bars, as law-enforcement officers went all out to find him.

In 2011, he pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges in connection with drug trafficking and assault. On June, 8, 2012, he was sentenced by a Federal Court in New York City to 23 years in prison.