Fraudster jailed again; this time for swindling man out of $700,000 in fake contract scam

A man with a history of fraud has once again found himself behind bars, this time for tricking a hopeful businessman into handing over $700,000 in a bogus Government contract scheme.
Ronald Saunders, 54, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Friday sentenced to two years imprisonment by Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the charge, between August 15 and 18, 2023, at Kitty, Georgetown, Saunders approached Andrew Hall and claimed that he was a member of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He assured Hall that he could secure two Government contracts on his behalf. However, Hall would first need to pay a “tender fee” of $700,000.
Trusting Saunders, Hall handed over the money. But after days passed with no word and repeated attempts to contact Saunders proved futile, Hall realised he had been conned. He then reported the matter to the police, who later arrested Saunders.
When questioned, Saunders admitted to receiving the money and confessed that he had no means of repaying it. He told investigators that he was pleading guilty and hoped for mercy from the court.
During Friday’s sentencing, Magistrate Singh asked Saunders why she should not impose the maximum penalty of five years. In response, the defendant acknowledged his wrongdoing and begged for leniency.
After considering his guilty plea and expressed remorse, the Magistrate imposed a two-year prison sentence.
This is not Saunders’ first conviction and imprisonment for fraud however.
Back in August 2018, Saunders was sentenced to 56 months in prison by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, after pleading guilty to fraudulently converting $2.7 million that had been entrusted to him.
In that instance, he was employed as a security guard by Lancelot Bacchus, who had given him the money to purchase and deliver two tractor engines for a mining business the two had discussed starting.
Instead of using the funds for the agreed purpose, Saunders used the money to purchase mobile phones.
According to reports, the 2018 crime was committed several months after he was released from a 36-month prison sentence for the same type of offence when he was charged in June 2016.
He had then been solely entrusted by Clint McKenzie with 12 ounces of raw gold, valued $2,760,000, to sell and take the proceeds to McKenzie but he had fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit.