Mixologist granted bail over alleged conversion of over $1M in gold jewellery

A 33-year-old mixologist was on Friday granted $150,000 bail after being charged with fraudulently converting over $1 million in gold jewellery that had been entrusted to him, including a pair of wedding rings and a gold band.
Joel Waldron, of Lot 104 Victory Valley, Linden, appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer to a charge which alleged that on May 23, 2025, at Robb Street, Georgetown, he was entrusted by Mark Lewis with one gold band valued at $470,000 and two gold wedding rings valued at $558,000, all totalling $1,028,000.

Waldron is accused of converting the items for his personal use and benefit.
The charge was initially laid indictable, but at Friday’s hearing, the prosecution requested that the matter be tried summarily. With the agreement of Waldron, the case proceeded in the Magistrate’s court, and Waldron pleaded not guilty.
During the proceedings, Magistrate Singh questioned whether the parties were interested in resolving the matter through a settlement. However, the virtual complainant, Mark Lewis, made it clear that he had no intention of settling. Waldron also stated that he wished to proceed to a full trial.
The prosecution did not object to bail, and Magistrate Singh granted Waldron bail in the sum of $150,000. The court also ordered Waldron to return on July 11 for the disclosure of evidence.
This is not Waldron’s first time before the court. Back in March 2021, he was charged with breaching COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. He had appeared before Linden Magistrate Wanda Fortune, accused of hosting a private party on February 27, 2021, at Buck Hill, Wismar. Waldron had pleaded not guilty to that charge and was placed on $20,000 bail. It is unclear what became of that matter.