Dangriga Taxi Operator Charged in Nearly $9000 Dollar Fraud Scheme

A Dangriga taxi operator is out on bail after being arraigned in Belize City in connection with an alleged money transfer deception scheme.  Glenford Castillo Junior appeared unrepresented yesterday afternoon before the Chief Magistrate, where he was read a single charge of obtaining a money transfer by deception. He pleaded not guilty to the allegation.  The charge stems from a report made by 49-year-old Rodney Petillo, a fisherman of Belize City, who told police he was defrauded of nearly nine thousand dollars. Petillo reported that on January 31, he received a phone number from a Dangriga resident, which he believed belonged to a Belize City attorney who could assist in clearing his police record and facilitating a firearm license.  According to police, Petillo was instructed to make a series of online transfers to a Belize Bank account in the name of “Ronell Gonzalez,” totaling seven thousand seven hundred dollars. He also transferred an additional one thousand and fifty dollars to another account reportedly for firearm license processing, bringing the total to eight thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.  However, on March 18, after obtaining a police record, Petillo realized that his record remained unchanged. He reported that attempts to contact the individual ceased, leading him to believe he had been scammed.  Police investigations subsequently led to the detention and arrest of Castillo Junior in Dangriga. He was later transported to Belize City, where he was formally charged.  With no objection to bail, the court granted Castillo Junior bail in the sum of six thousand dollars, plus two sureties of three thousand dollars each. As part of his bail conditions, he is required to report to the Dangriga Police Station twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays.  Castillo Junior is due back in court on May 26, as the matter continues.