Woman charged for defrauding persons in pyramid scheme

A 33-year-old woman who was wanted by the police for questioning in relation to operating a pyramid scheme, was on Friday charged and released on bail.

Keziah Jeuel Roberts of Lot 88 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on one of the charges.

The first charge stated that on January 8, 2021, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she obtained the sum of $80,000 from Mellisa Rupai, by falsely pretending that she was in the position to invest the said sum of money and deliver to her $300,000 within 21 days.

The second charge stated that on January 8, 2021, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she obtained the sum of $80,000 from Devika Hiralal, by falsely 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.

The third charge stated that on January 5, 2021, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she obtained the sum of $80,000 from Lynn Melvin, by falsely 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.

Roberts was also arraigned before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly on a similar charge.

It is alleged that on January 19, 2021, at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, with intent to defraud, she obtained $40,000 from Saskia [only name given], by falsely pretending that she was in the position to invest the said sum of money and delivered to her the sum of $120,000 within 21 days.

Roberts was not required to plead to the indictable charges. She was released on $180,000 bail. As a condition of bail, she is required to lodge her passport with the Court and report to the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) every week until the hearing and determination of her trial.

The mother of one was instructed to make her next court appearance on May 21, 2021.