A 33-year-old man in Dominica has been given six months to pay $8,000.00 or spend six months behind bars after he was found guilty of attempting to fraudulently obtain cash from an ATM. Additionally, for the next two years, he must not commit any fraudulent offense or a 15-month suspended custodial sentence will be imposed.

According to reports from Roseau, Ersan Michael Francis, a 33-year-old fitness instructor, pleaded to three charges preferred against him by the police for attempting to fraudulently obtain $8,000.00 from an ATM belonging to the National Cooperative Credit Union (NCCU), as well as the possession and trafficking of 12 magnetic stripe cards for an unlawful purpose.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Laville, told the court that on September 7, 2022, at about 9:58 pm, Internal Auditor at the NCCU, Marcel Harrigan made a report to the police of a suspicious ATM transaction involving the use of counterfeit cards by a male individual.

Reports say when the financial institution called the police, a police officer along with others on mobile patrol responded to the report, and when they arrived at the ATM, Francis was questioned by police.

Francis reportedly told the police that he had found the card in the garden and decided to try it out…”I see they have pinned on them so I come and see if I could get some cash.”

Police charged him 72 hours later. He pleaded guilty to the charges. 

The three charges all carry a maximum penalty of a fine of $30,000.00 or two years in jail or fine and confinement.

In constructing his sentence, the magistrate said the court will not deviate from the sentencing guidelines.

For the offense of attempting to fraudulently obtain $8,000.00 from the NCCU, Francis was fined $8,000.00 to be paid by December 31, 2022. In default, he will be imprisoned for six months.

For the offense of trafficking the 12 magnetic stripe cards, he was sentenced to 15 months in jail and suspended for two years with no separate penalty for the charge of possession of counterfeit cards.