68 fraud charges and counting for taxi service owner

The legal troubles of Omeca Primo, the owner of Primo’s Imports and Taxi Service, intensified on Friday as 55 additional fraud-related charges were brought against her, bringing the total number of charges she faces to 68. Primo appeared before Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where she was once again denied bail and further remanded to prison.
The initial 13 charges against Primo alleged that she collected over $11.3 million from customers under false pretences, promising to deliver vehicles that were never provided nor refunded. Since then, investigators have uncovered a larger network of alleged fraud, with victims spanning multiple regions. The prosecutor noted that even more charges are likely to follow as complaints continue to come in.

According to the prosecution, the investigation has been challenging, with Primo reportedly evading authorities for weeks. Repeated calls to her phone went unanswered, and visits to addresses in Linden and Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) yielded no results, as Primo was never located at those residences.
The prosecution stated that it was only through an undercover operation that they were able to apprehend her, adding that the addresses and contact information she had provided were misleading and inconsistent.
The court also heard that some of Primo’s alleged victims began receiving threats after speaking out about their experiences, even on social media. Prosecutors claim these intimidation tactics were intended to prevent individuals from coming forward. Additionally, they noted that Primo was allegedly using incorrect spelling variations of her name to obscure her identity.
Despite the mounting allegations, Primo’s lawyer, Everton Singh-Lammy, argued for bail, asserting that his client is not a flight risk and has two verified addresses. He requested bail in a “considerable amount” due to the extensive list of charges but emphasised that Primo has cooperated with authorities.
It is alleged that she resold vehicles that she had purchased on credit from larger local dealerships, then failed to fulfill her payment obligations, leading to repossessions. One victim, a young man who had been making monthly payments to Primo, had his vehicle seized after it was discovered that she had not settled the transaction with the dealership.
The Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Anti-Fraud Unit, which has taken over the case, is urging other potential victims to come forward. To date, complaints have been lodged from victims across Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Corentyne-Berbice), and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Police sources have indicated that with the ongoing investigation, additional charges are likely, as more alleged victims report their cases.
Primo is set to return to court on November 11. (G9)