A CHEF from Ecuador, South America, who is suspected to be the mastermind behind a fake United States (U.S.) visa scam in Guyana, was on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, jailed for four years for conspiracy to commit forgery and cocaine trafficking.

Julio Herreira, 36, made his appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the two charges.
Particulars of the first charge alleged that, between May 1, 2019, and May 23, 2019, at Georgetown, Herreira conspired with persons known and unknown to commit forgery.
Particulars of the second charge alleged that, on May 27, 2019, at Charlotte Street, Georgetown, Herreira had 0.6 grammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels told the court that, on May 23, 2019, Herreira was intercepted by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters at DHL, Fifth Street, Alberttown, with two fake U.S. visas in his possession.
Herreira then took the ranks to a Charlotte Street, Georgetown home, where he was staying and a search was conducted; the suspected cocaine was found in a cigarette pack.
In court, Herreira apologised and explained that he did not know that the fake visa was a serious offence in Guyana.

“I’m sorry, I had no intention of scamming anybody,” the defendant said, as he explained that he purchased the cocaine while he was intoxicated, but did not get to use it.
The acting chief magistrate sentenced Herreira to three years imprisonment for the conspiracy to commit forgery and one year imprisonment with a fine of $20,000 for the cocaine charge.