‘Banker’ on GY$2.4 million bail for stealing GY$36 million from couple’s bank account

A city resident was arraigned on Friday for allegedly being part of an elaborate scheme that involved the theft of more than GY$36 million from a couple’s joint account at a commercial bank on Camp Street.

Police alleged that 23-year-old Shemaiah “Banker” Ryan, an unemployed resident of Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown created a fake national identification card in the name of Carl Peterkin, represented himself as the account holder and signed up for an automatic teller machine (ATM) card and internet banking at a bank on Camp Street, Georgetown.

Unknown individuals allegedly conspired with him and created the bogus ID card on September 2, 2022. Investigators said the joint account holders—Bernadette and Carl Peterkin—”never applied for or were issued with ATM Cards, nor have they signed up for Internet Banking.”

Investigators said Mr Ryan then contacted Donna and Chelsea Edwards, whom he had known for several years, and asked them to transfer monies to their accounts, which they withdrew and handed over to him. He had allegedly told Edwards that he had secured a government road contract in Berbice and so he was unable to travel to Georgetown to pay his workers.

The probe allegedly uncovered that from September 2, 2022, and September 10, 2022, on 13 occasions, he transferred at total of GY$17,997,000 from Bernadette and Charles Peterkin’s account into Chelsea Edwards’ account, via internet banking.

Further, police alleged that between September 7, 2022, and September 27, 2022, on 13 occasions he transferred GY$13,618,000 from the Peterkin’s account to Donna Edwards’ account via internet banking.

The Edwards allegedly withdrew the said cash and handed same to the accused.

Police said that from September 2 to September 30, 2022, on 27 occasions, Mr Ryan went to several ATM locations in and around Georgetown where he used the ATM card and withdrew a total of GY$4,829,000 from the Peterkins account.

“On all occasions, he was caught on CCTV doing the ATM withdrawals,” police said.

Mr Ryan was arrested on March 31, 2025 and charged on April 4 with 25 counts of simple larceny of GY$4,829,000 committed on the Peterkins, and 23 counts of conspiracy to commit computer-related fraud, in breach of the Cybercrime Act totalling GY$31,615,000 committed on the Peterkins.

City Magistrate Fabayo Azore adjourned the matters to May 16, 2025. Mr Ryan pleaded not guilty and was placed on G$50,000 bail on each count, amounting to GY$2,400,000. The matter is adjourned to the 16th of May 2025 for report.