Teen faces fresh charges after initial $1.4M embezzlement case withdrawn

Nineteen-year-old Serena Samuels, a former office assistant of Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD) is once again before the courts, this time facing a new series of charges in connection with alleged financial misconduct at her former workplace, Beacon Roti.
The teen had previously been charged in April for reportedly embezzling over $1.4 million from her employer. However, when she appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday, the prosecution disclosed that, following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), those initial charges had been formally withdrawn.
Samuels, who was entrusted with managing daily cash sales and petty cash while employed at Beacon Café on Sheriff Street, Georgetown, is now facing 11 new charges of larceny by clerk or servant, contrary to Section 184 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. The new charges are based on incidents that allegedly occurred throughout March and early April 2024, during which time she is accused of stealing multiple sums of cash that were in her care as part of her duties. The total amount now being alleged in the fresh set of charges exceeds $1.3 million.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Magistrate McGusty explained that Samuels could apply for the $600,000 bail previously posted in the earlier case to be transferred toward the new charges. However, the transfer would need to be coordinated with the individual who initially posted the bail. Samuel, who appeared unrepresented in court, stated that she was unsure whether she would be able to make contact with that person. The Magistrate advised her that failure to secure the transfer of the bail could result in her being remanded to prison. It remained unclear up to press time whether the transfer had been completed.
The original charges stemmed from an internal audit conducted by the business owner, who reportedly discovered that Samuels had allegedly failed to submit daily cash reports and could not account for large sums over a period stretching from mid-March to early April 2024. Upon discovering a shortfall totaling over $1.4 million, the employer filed a police report. Samuels was arrested and charged shortly after.
At her first court appearance, she expressed a desire to reach a compromise and repay the money but noted that she had been unemployed at the time and was facing financial difficulties. With the new charges now formally laid, Samuels is expected to return to court on May 23.