American woman jailed for 18 months

A United States of America citizen on Monday was jailed for 18 months when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with one count of forgery and one of fraud.

Stacy Hamilton, 44, originally of Texas, USA, pleaded guilty to both offences when Magistrate Fabayo Azore read the charges to her.

The first charge stated that between January 1, 2015 and August 12, 2016 at Georgetown, she conspired with persons to forge one passport in favour of Tara Ashley Vaughn, reporting that same was issued by an immigration officer.

The second charge read that on August 12, 2016 at Lethem, with intent to defraud, the defendant reported to Steven Williams that the passport was issued by the immigration office.

The Prosecution contended that on the day in questioned, Hamilton was intercepted at Lethem as she was attempting to travel to Brazil with the forged passport.

Her passport was checked and she was arrested and told of the offence after which she was charged.

She told officers that she bought the passport from an unidentified person for a sum of US$1500.

Her attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat in a plea of mitigation begged the Magistrate that she not be given a custodial sentenced as she have been living in Guyana for the past year and a half.

However, the Magistrate said that a fine will not be given as the matter is a serious one, as such she handed down her sentence.

The defendant is to be deported after serving her time in prison.