A Nigerian citizen, Uche Raymond Okoye has been given a ten-year jail sentence for swindling a 65-year-old woman out of $6 million (about N2.5 billion) in Guyana.
Also known as Uche Parker, Okoye is currently facing multiple fraud charges in the Magistrate’s Court and has been sentenced for ten of those charges on Friday.
He was found guilty on November 03, 2021, for ten counts of obtaining money by false pretense from the woman, who is a pensioner.
During the sentencing hearing before Magistrate Anette Singh at the Georgetown Magistratre’s Court, he was given a one-year imprisonment term for each of the ten charges.
Okoye agreed to repay some of the money he defrauded the victim during a plea in mitigation. However, he still faces other charges prosecuted by the Special Organised Crime Unit.
According to reports, there are ongoing romance package scams and pyramid schemes in Guyana operated by Nigerian nationals who are in the country illegally. Victims are enticed by individuals they meet online to part with their money.
The Special Organised Crime Unit is investigating this organized crime, and citizens of Guyana are advised against sending money to individuals they encounter online.
The case was prosecuted by Attorney-at-Law Tuanna Hardy from the Special Organised Crime Unit, and the accused was represented by Attorney at Law Melvin Duke.