A 56-year-old man from Berbice was today charged by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) with conspiracy to defraud.
John Patrick Lewis of Lot 34 Williamsburg Village, Corentyne Berbice appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates Court before Her Worship Leron Daly where he pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $50,000.
Based on reports received by SOCU, John Patrick Lewis, who is a Carpenter, reportedly received $146,500 from a woman with the understanding that she will receive a certificate to clear her expensive package sent by her Facebook “boyfriend”.
He was alleged to have acted as a third party for another person who befriended the victim via Facebook.
John Patrick Lewis is just one of the four recipients whom the victim sent money to; SOCU is currently looking for the others.
The victim claimed she sent the money to the John Patrick Lewis after she was instructed to do so by her Facebook “boyfriend”, who provided her with all of Patrick’s personal information.
She sent the money using Western Union money transfer. To date she has never received any package and her Facebook boyfriend has since disappeared.
The matter was investigated by SOCU and the suspect was arrested and charged.
The case will come up for hearing again on 2nd September, 2022.
On Tuesday last, SOCU instituted similar charges against Jaffon Hinds of Lot 106 Downer Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara. The Head of Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) Assistant Commissioner Fizal Karimbaksh is once again calling on all Guyanese to be vigilant against the Package Delivery and Romance Scams.
