Nursing assistant charged with operating pyramid scheme

Thirty-two-year-old nursing assistant, Keziah Jeuel Roberts, was on Friday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for obtaining monies from four women during the operation of an alleged pyramid scheme.

Roberts of Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown, first appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly and was not required to plea to the three counts of obtaining money by false pretence.

The three charges alleged that between January 5 – 8, 2021, in Georgetown, with the intent to defraud, she obtained the sum of $80,000 each from Lynn Melvin, Devika Hiralal and Mellisa Rupi by falsely pretending that she was in a position to invest the said money and deliver $360,000.

She was granted $150,000 bail and the case is adjourned to May 21, 2021.

Meanwhile, Roberts was later arraigned before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, on a fourth charge, which alleged that on January 19, 2021, at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, with the intent to defraud, she obtained the sum of $40,000 from Saskia by falsely pretending that she was in a position to invest the said money and deliver $120,000.

She was released on $30,000 bail for that charge and the matter is adjourned to May 21. The Chief Magistrate also ordered that Roberts lodge her passport at the court; she was further instructed to report to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Earlier this month, the Guyana Police Force had issued a wanted bulletin for Roberts. She is accused of running the scheme, known as ‘The Blessing Circle’ or “The Flower” where persons are scammed of their monies.