Armed robbery suspects from Plaisance hit with multiple charges

Two individuals from Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, have been slapped with several charges following their recent arrests in connection with armed robbery and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

Orwin Smith, a 25-year-old mason, and Shawana Sobers, a 34-year-old clothes vendor, both from Lot 20 Prince Williams Street, Plaisance, were arrested on March 15, 2025, and charged on March 19, 2025, with the following offences:

Possession of Firearm Without Licence, contrary to Section 16(2)(a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05 (for a 9mm pistol).

Possession of Ammunition Without Licence, contrary to Section 16(2)(a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05 (for eleven 9mm live rounds of ammunition).

The duo was apprehended at their residence on Prince Williams Street. At approximately 11:45 AM today, they appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Clive Nurse.

Smith pleaded guilty to the charges, resulting in a $15,000 fine (Guyana Currency) and an 18-month prison sentence. Sobers, on the other hand, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $100,000. The case was adjourned until May 6, 2025.

In a related development, Orwin Smith and Cleveland Cross, a 28-year-old construction worker from Lot 22 Graham Street, Plaisance, were jointly charged with two counts of Robbery Under Arms, contrary to Section 222(c) of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01.

The duo is accused of committing an armed robbery on March 14, 2025, at a Chinese supermarket located at the Success Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara. Both Smith and Cross pleaded not guilty during their appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court today, and the matter was also adjourned to May 6, 2025.

Furthermore, Orwin Smith faces additional charges, including:

Possession of Firearm Without Licence for an FNS-40 pistol.

Possession of Ammunition Without Licence for eleven .40 live rounds of ammunition.

Robbery Under Arms for stealing from two individuals:

– Wang Jing, a 42-year-old female Chinese national from Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, who lost $70,000 in cash and cellular phone cards worth $10,000.

– Daquan Philadelphia, a 27-year-old security officer, who was robbed of one 9mm pistol and ten live matching rounds of ammunition valued at $326,000, the property of Sheriff Security Service. This incident occurred on February 23, 2025, at FEI XI Chinese supermarket in Melanie, East Coast Demerara.

Smith appeared today at the Vigilance Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, where the charges were read. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was postponed to April 28, 2025.