Alleged money scam trial set

Wayne Noel Fitzgerald Davidson pleaded not guilty in Summary Court on Thursday to possession of implements of forgery — items police described in an earlier press release as being used in a “black money” scam (Caymanian Compass, 10 June). 

The items Mr. Davidson is charged with having include “paper intended to resemble and pass as special paper,” bleaching agents, scissors and coloured solution for the making of currency notes. 

Chief Magistrate Margaret Ramsay-Hale set trial for 29 June after refusing a bail application because he is a visitor with no ties to the Island. 

Defence Attorney John Furniss told the court that his client said the items found in his room were there for a perfectly innocent purpose. 

“What is the innocent purpose?” the magistrate asked. 

Mr. Furniss referred to paper cut to the size of currency notes. “He was hoping to impress the young ladies with what might appear to be a good wad of money,” he said. 

Senior Crown Counsel John Masters referred to the paper and other items as items of counterfeiting paraphernalia. He said they were found by officers of the Serious Crime Task Force and Financial Crimes Unit, who carried out an operation on 8 June at Treasure Island Resort where Mr. Davidson was staying. The items led the officers to suspect a “black money” scam.  

Mr. Masters explained the scam as persuading a victim to hand over genuine money in exchange for purportedly real currency notes that have been dyed black. The reason given by the con artist for dyeing currency notes black is to evade detection by law enforcement officials such as police or customs officers. 

The victim is asked to pay for chemicals that will supposedly wash the money, with a promise that he or she will share in the proceeds. As a demonstration, one of the black pieces of paper is washed in the victim’s presence and, by sleight of hand, the con artist substitutes a real note. 

This is sometimes called a wash scheme, Mr. Masters noted. 

Mr. Furniss said there was no suggestion the defendant in this case had approached anyone. The officers who searched the room did not find any counterfeit money. He said the Crown was asking the court to draw an inference. Mr. Davidson, 47, had come to visit at the invitation of friends, who were prepared to stand surety for him. 

The magistrate said the charge was serious and Mr. Davidson, who is from Guyana, was a flight risk. 

Mr. Masters advised that investigations were continuing and other charges might arise.