Mother, son, daughter-in-law charged in counterfeit money ring

Three members of the same family, who are alleged to be involved in a counterfeit money ring, were on Friday arranged before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and slapped with a series of charges.

Simone Thompson, 40, and her son Dexter Thompson, 26, along with his reputed wife Yelitza Lopez, 26, all appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Simone Thompson was slapped with five counts of uttering forged United States (US)Currency to persons.

The five charges alleged that between March 25, 2019, and April 28, 2019, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Simone Thompson uttered to five persons US$3,850, knowing same to be forged.

The victims were SaheedHarrinarine, RavindraRajnauth, Ravindra Persaud, Monila Atkins and Mondell Smith.

The woman pleaded not guilty to the five charges and was released on a total of $250,000 bail.

Meanwhile, her son, Dexter Thompson, was slapped with two counts of uttering forged US currency.

The two charges read that between January 23, 2019, and May 14, 2019, at Georgetown uttered a total of US$4,300 to two persons, knowing same to be forged.

He reportedly swindled the money through Quills Optical and Omel Del Toro.

Dexter Thompson pleaded not guilty to the two charges and was released on a total of $100,000 bail

Meanwhile, his reputed wife Yelitza Lopez, a Venezuelan nation, was slapped with three charges.

It is alleged that Lopez on May 15, 2019, at Georgetown, without any lawful authorization had 44 forged US$50 currency in her possession.

The last two charges alleged that between January 23, 2019, and May 15, 2019, at Georgetown, Lopez uttered a total of US$4,300 to two persons, knowing same to be forged.

She reportedly swindled the money though Quills Optical and Rooklin Del Toro.

The woman, with the aid of an interpreter, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to prison since she is not a Guyanese and poses a flight risk.

The defendants will return to court on June 14, 2019.