Rayon Nurse, the former Marketing and Distribution Incorporated salesman who was charged in 2014 with embezzling over $8M from three of the company’s customers, was yesterday handed a suspended sentence for the crime.
In July, 2014, Nurse was charged with embezzling two separate sums of $2M cash as well as $4.7M from three customers. He was also charged with uttering information surrounding the disappearance of the money to a constable on July 3, 2014, knowing it was false.
Nurse claimed, however, that he was robbed of the money at gunpoint by two men.
He was found guilty of the offence by Magistrate Fabayo Azore on June 23.
Before his sentencing yesterday, a probation report was read by a probation officer, who highlighted Nurse’s excellent stance in his community.
The report also noted that the defendant maintained his innocence of the allegations.
Subsequent to the reading of the report, attorney-at-law Patrice Henry, who represented Nurse, told the court that having viewed all the circumstances of the case, it was only fitting that the court grant the man a suspended sentence.
He stated further that if Nurse were to be imprisoned, no useful benefit could be obtained in attempting to reform him.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that it should take into consideration all that was presented by the prosecution, the company’s loss and the fact that the man was already found guilty of the offence.
After a period during which there was much prayer by the defendant’s family, Magistrate Azore told the court that based on the probation report, it appeared as though the court was dealing with a different person.
She added that she considered the fact that he was found guilty of the offence, his age, the fact that he is employed and also the fact that he has two young children.
It was on these grounds that the defendant was granted a three-year suspended sentence for the two embezzlement charges and also fined $30,000 for giving police false information.
Magistrate Azore stated that if within the three-year period Nurse were to commit any offence, he would be arrested and jailed.
