A Nigerian national, Uche Raymond Okoye will spend 10 years behind bars after being found guilty on ten counts of Obtaining Money by False Pretence from a 65-year-old Guyanese woman.
Okoye also known as ‘Uche Parker’ is also facing several other fraud charges; there are also other matters still being prosecuted against him by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), police reported.
He received his guilty sentence on Friday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Anette Singh on ten of those charges, spending one year in prison for each.
According to a police report, during a plea in mitigation, Uche agreed to repay the victim some of the money he defrauded her.
The matter was prosecuted by attorney Tuanna Hardy from SOCU while the accused was represented by Melvin Duke.
According to the police, several ongoing “romance scams” and pyramid schemes are reportedly being operated in Guyana by Nigerian nationals who are here illegally; the victims are lured by persons they meet online who influence them to send money.
This organized crime is being investigated by SOCU and Guyanese citizens are urged not to send money to persons they meet online.
