A nurse was on Friday charged with fraud after being accused of obtaining monies from persons through the operation of a Ponzi scheme.
Keziah Jeuel Roberts, 32, of Lot 88 Eping and Ituni avenues, Bel Air Park, appeared in two Georgetown courtrooms where she was charged with a total of four counts of fraud and released on $180,000 bail.
Roberts was first arraigned in Court Two before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, who read the first three indictable charges to her. It is alleged that on January 5, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud she obtained the sum of $80,000 from Lynn Melvin, by pretending that she was in the position to invest the said sum of money and deliver to Melvin the sum of $360,000 within 21 days.
It was also alleged that on January 8, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she obtained the sum of $80,000 from Mellisa Rupai, by pretending that she was in the position to invest the said sum of money and deliver to Rupai the sum of $360,000 within 21 days.
Additionally, it is alleged that on January 8, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she obtained the sum of $80,000 from Devika Hiralal, by pretending that she was in the position to invest the said sum of money and deliver to Hiralal the sum of $360,000 within 21 days. She was then placed on $50,000 bail for each charge.
The fourth indictable charge was read to her by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court One. It alleged that on January 19, at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, with intent to defraud, she obtained the sum of $40,000 from Saskia, by pretending that she was in the position to invest the said sum of money and deliver $120,000 to Saskia within 21 days. Roberts was placed on $30,000 bail.
Roberts’ attorney told the court that Roberts has no previous convictions and she presented herself to the police immediately after being made aware of the allegations. The court also heard that Roberts was willing to comply with any conditions attached to reasonable bail.
However, the Police Prosecutor objected to bail being granted and told the court that a wanted bulletin had to be issued by the police before the woman contacted the police. The bulletin was issued on Monday. It stated that she was wanted by the police for questioning in relation to operating a pyramid scheme and falsely obtaining monies from several persons between September, 2020 and February, 2021.
Nevertheless, bail was granted and the matters were adjourned until May 21.
