By Antynet Ford
A US national Antonucci Sergio Patrick has been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by pretense after he was yesterday arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in connection to a USD 1.3 million Gold Scam in Kenya.
The DCI disclosed that the suspect was arrested after jetting into the country from Dubai.
He was arraigned yesterday at the Milimani Law Courts.
“Detectives deployed to pursue fraudsters in mega gold scams reported across the country have today arraigned a U.S. citizen implicated in a scam involving thousands of kilograms of gold that cost the victim over USD 1.35 million. Antonucci Sergio Patrick was arraigned at Milimani Law Courts charged with Conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by pretenses, following his arrest yesterday after jetting into the country from Dubai.” The DCI remarked.
According to investigations, Sergio met the victim in July 2023 in Nevada, Las Vegas, USA, where the suspect introduced himself as a former banker, investor and consultant specialized in conducting business in markets that are considered hostile and complex by the United States standards.
DCI explained that after the victim was impressed with the suspect’s profile, he contracted him to protect his gold transactions in Africa.
“Awed by the profile, the complainant who happens to be a fellow compatriot contracted him (Sergio) to protect his gold transactions in Africa assuming that he was licensed and for this paid him a USD 50,000 signing bonus on the 29th August, 2023, followed by a 15,000 US dollars payment on the 24th of January, 2024 and a further 15,000 US dollars on February 28, 2024.” They added in the statement.
The directorate further disclosed that the victim was made to fly to Nairobi where the suspect introduced him to another American accomplice whom the suspect presented as an active-duty U.S. soldier.
The directorate noted that no consignment was delivered at the end prompting the matter to be reported to the police.
The suspect pleaded not guilty and was granted a bond of Sh10 million plus one Kenyan surety.
The matter will be mentioned on January 23, 2025.
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