A 24-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to conning three persons out of a total of $900,000 by pretending that he could supply them with vehicles.
Jermaine Fraser, of Lamaha Springs, was sentenced by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown after he pleaded guilty to three separate charges of obtaining money by false pretence.
Fraser denied a fourth charge.
Fraser admitted that with intent to defraud, he obtained the sum of $400,000 from Baldeo Puran on April 26th, at Georgetown, by falsely pretending that he was in a position to obtain a Toyota Carina 212 for him.
He also admitted that with intent to defraud, he obtained $300,000 from Ashley Singh on May 4th at Laparkan, Lombard Street by falsely pretending that he was in a position to sell a motorbus to her.
He pleaded guilty as well to obtaining $200,000 from Floyd La Fleur on June 29th, at Charlotte Street by falsely pretending that he was in a position to acquire a minibus for him.
The Chief Magistrate was told that on the day in question, Fraser met with Puran at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) headquarters in relation to selling a car. Puran gave the defendant $225,000 to process the registration for the said motorcar. The accused then went into GRA. The complainant subsequently gave him another $175,000 but never received a car from Fraser. As a result, a report was made to the police.
In relation to Singh, the court heard that she and Fraser are not known to each other. After Fraser made a Facebook post about the vehicle, she arranged to meet him and he claimed that he was selling a motorbus and needed a $600,000 down payment. Singh, however, paid him $300,000 for the minibus. After collecting the cash from Singh, Fraser went into an office at the GNIC. About 15 minutes later, the accused came out of the office, walked past Singh and ran out of the compound and made his escape on a waiting motorcycle.
As it relates to La Fleur, the court was told that on June 29th Fraser met with him at the High Court in Georgetown and received $200,000. Fraser then went into the High Court and the complainant waited for some time for the accused, who never returned.
When asked by the magistrate if he had anything to say in relation to the crimes, Fraser stated he had nothing to say.
He did, however, offer a not guilty plea to a separate charge which stated that on July 31st, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $1,405,000 from Damion Persaud by falsely pretending that he was in a position to obtain a Toyota Premio motorcar for him.
In light of Fraser’s guilty pleas, Chief Magistrate McLennan sentenced him to three years in prison. She, however, ordered that he return to court on August 31st for a hearing pertaining to the remaining charge.
