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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
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In June of 2017, two Bulgarian men pleaded guilty to 18 counts each of illegally withdrawing money from ATM's, and to theft from ATM's.

They did it using bogus international bank cards - and now, less than a year later, a trio of Mexicans is accused of doing the same thing. They were caught on Friday in Corozal - and went to court in Belize City today. Here's the story of what they did, and to which bank:...

Jules Vasquez reporting
Three Mexicans, Belen Hernandez, Lionel Rodriguez, in black and Joscan Jafet with the hoodie were all charged with one count of theft today in Magistrate's Court.

Police say the trio fraudulently withdrew at least one hundred thousand dollars from Atlantic Bank Branches throughout the country.

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"On Friday, police intercepted three Mexican nationals with an assorted different bank cards, international cards. They were intercepted in the Corozal District along with a substantial amount of Mexican currency. The Atlantic Bank had indicated to police that they had seen these three persons, two male person and a female, withdrawing several amounts of cash from different ATMs within the country. So far, ehm this investigation is pointing that we have two Mexican nationals together; two males and a female, and a search conducted on their apartment at Ladyville yielded several computers and other electronic items that the police at this moment is looking to see what other information they can get from those devices."

Reporter
"So is it believed that the money, or at least the bank cards may be stolen?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"They are of different persons. So, we suspect that they have been stolen from other persons."

Reporter
"Belizeans?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"No. All of them is international cards."

Reporter
"And about how many, sir? Do you know?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"We have over 60/ if I'm not mistaken."

Operating from this apartment in the New Site area of Ladyville - the trio used those 60 bank cards to repeatedly visit Atlantic Bank ATM's and make fraudulent withdrawals.

Reporter
"How much has been withdrawn from these accounts so far?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"The report from Atlantic Bank is giving a rough estimate of about a hundred thousand dollars, within a period from November to present date. It is Atlantic Bank in the Free Zone, Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize City, San Pedro, Caye Caulker and, I believe, San Ignacio."

It was a high profile arraignment in court today with their attorney Kevin Arthurs trying unsuccessfully to get them bail.

This man, Mike Smith - a deportee who was charged with failing to make regular checks with police as required for deportees - and who was recently caught in Mexico with a stolen passport, claims he was their local handler.

As they left court they were taken into custody for them to be charged with more offences.

Joscan Jafet and Belen Hernandez are 26, and 31 Lionel Rodriguez is 31.

They appeared before Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser where Jafet was charged the theft of $300 dollars from the Atlantic Bank branch in Corozal Town. Hernandez was charged with the theft of $500 from the Atlantic Bank in Orange Walk Town. Rodriguez was charged with the theft of $200 dollars from Atlantic in Corozal Town.

All the alleged thefts occurred on January 19. Their attorney, Kevin Arhurs, argued strenuously for bail, but Chief Magistrate Fraser denied it, and remanded them into custody until March 21.

Channel 7


Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
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Mexican Trio of Bank Card Fraudsters Will Face More Charges

Tonight, three Mexicans are in the Hattieville Prison pending many more charges for theft and possibly other offences. Leonel Isaac Rodriguez Peralta, Joscan Jafet Hernandez, and Belen Hernandez are being investigated for using bogus bank cards to take ninety-five thousand dollars out of Atlantic Bank ATM machines in the Free Zone, Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize City, San Pedro, Caye Caulker and San Ignacio. This happened between November 2017 and January 2018.

The trio was arrested on Friday in the Corozal District with a huge bundle of Mexican pesos. Police used a water bill to trace them to an apartment in the Ladyville area where they had been staying since December. That's where police took custody of several computers and other electronic items - which are being scanned for information that give some clue as to their illicit activities in Belize. In the meantime, the trio have been charged for a single count of theft. We understand the Financial Intelligence Unit is a major part of the investigation.

Notably, the three have a local contact in Mike Smith - a colorful character with a reputation for various acts of dishonesty. He claims he was their local handler. He was also charged yesterday but for violating the terms of his deportation.

Channel 7


Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
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Mexicans And Mucho Dinero

A trio of Mexicans who are on remand at the Hattieville prison, will face more charges.

They are Leonel Isaac Rodriguez, Joscan Jafet Hernandez, and Belen Hernandez - and they were all arraigned last week for a single charge of theft. The trio is accused of ripping off the Atlantic Bank - with bogus bank and credit cards. They alleged withdrew a hundred thousand dollars form Atlantic bank branches throughout the country.

But - it turns out - that hundred grand - is just the starter figure. Police told us there's more:...

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Over the weekend we have received additional information from the Atlantic Bank, so at this moment police is preparing additional charges to be levied on them. It will be sometime during this week that we will get a new order and they will be brought again to answer to several other counts of thefts that will be given to them."

Reporter
"Has any other bank come forward?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"No, it's only Atlantic Bank."

Reporter
"Do you all know any reason why they choose specifically Atlantic Bank?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"I cannot tell you that. I know that during the past years it was several banks that were touched. We had the Belize Bank, Atlantic Bank and we had the First Caribbean Bank."

Reporter
"And the quantum of $95,000 that you had said last week?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"According to the bank it's as they go and review more the cameras and their audit, the figure keeps increasing. Right now it's over a hundred thousand dollars."

We'll be there when they next appear in court.

Channel 7


Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
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Accused Mexican ATM Scammers Get Off

In February, we told you how Mexicans, Belen Hernandez, Joscat Jafet Hernandez, and Lionel Isaac Rodriguez, were freed of theft charges in the Corozal Magistrate's Court for the third time. Police accused them of engaging in credit card fraud to steal several thousand dollars from Atlantic Bank ATM's in different parts of the country. At one point, 2 out of the 3 accused were facing over 20 counts of theft in the Corozal and Belize City Magistrate's Courts.

Well, tonight, all charges have been dropped against them. That was the outcome when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer today. The police prosecutor informed the court during their adjournment that the prosecution was seeking to withdraw the charges against them. No official reason was provided to the court for the change, and the Chief Magistrate dismissed all remaining offenses against the 3 Mexicans. After 17 months on remand, they were allowed to leave court completely free today.

Police had claimed that in January 2018, they visited Atlantic Bank ATMs in Corozal, Orange Walk, and Belize City, and allegedly fraudulently withdrew substantial sums of money. Belen Hernandez was criminally charged with allegedly removing over $10,000, while Lionel Rodriguez was accused of removing $21,500 dollars.

Atlantic Bank allegedly reported to police that a total of over $95,000 had gone missing around that time.

With today's withdrawal of the charges in Belize City, all 3 have beaten charges connected to this case for a 4th time now.

Channel 7


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