Susan Richards, who police say managed to defraud another woman of $85,000 via a Facebook scam in which she pretended to be a male suitor, managed to avoid prison today after agreeing to repay the money.
Richards, 26, of Lot 4 Go Slow Avenue, Tucville, Georgetown, appeared before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown and denied the charge that was brought against her.
The charge stated that between August 23 and August 27, 2021, she conspired with a person or persons to defraud RoseAnn Prytan of the sum of $85,000 through the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).
According to the prosecutor, Prytan met Richards, who identified herself as a white man from England named Alex, on Facebook. They then exchanged numbers and continued to communicate. During their communication, Richards was alleged to have told Prytan that she would be sending an expensive package with expensive items to her.
As a result, on August 23, 2021, Richards allegedly called Prytan and informed her that the package was in Guyana and that she would have to make a deposit into her (Richards’) bank account in order to uplift it.
As a result, Prytan deposited the money into the account. The accused withdrew the money, while Prytan did not receive the promised package.
Richards, who is a merchandiser at the Guyana Beverages Inc., was initially remanded to prison on the charge and ordered to make her next court appearance on August 3, 2022.
However, the decision was rescinded after her attorney, Eusi Anderson, who made a later appearance in court begged for the matter to be recalled so that he can make a bail application.
Although the magistrate had reservations about the matter being heard again, she eventually granted the attorney’s request.
During Anderson’s bail application, he said that his client was not a flight risk since she had cooperated with the police from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) since the start of the investigation.
He went on to say that is client was six weeks pregnant and the prison environment, if she was remanded, would not be suitable for her first trimester of her first pregnancy.
Anderson also noted that even before the arraignment, both Richards and the victim had made arrangement for her (Richards) to compensate the woman.
The magistrate then interjected by stating that the offence was a serious one and that compensation would not necessarily end prosecution. However, she added that if the money was to be paid over immediately in the court then she may consider bail or some other alternative.
Anderson immediately stood up and notified the court that the exact amount could be paid right away, and within two minutes, the $85,000 was paid over to Prytan.
Prytan then went into the witness box and stated that she would not be continuing with the matter and swore to not give any evidence against Richards. As a result, the charge was dismissed. Richards was also ordered to pay court costs of $10,000.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) today said that Richards was one of four persons to whom money was sent. In a statement, the GPF noted that John Patrick Lewis was also charged with offence on July 15 based on an investigation undertaken by the Special Organised Crime unit (SOCU).
The statement further said SOCU head Fazil Karimbaksh was once again calling on Guyanese to be vigilant against package delivery and romance scams and to report them immediately if they learn of them.
