GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC)–Guyana’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) says it has secured convictions against Cuban-born Yuri Garcia Dominguez and his Guyanese-born wife, Ateeka Ishmael, who were each found guilty of illegally operating a Ponzi scheme.

Magistrate Sunil Scarce, sitting at the Vigilance Magistrates’ Court, sentenced both defendants, with both accused fined one million Guyana dollars (One Guyana Dollar=US$0.008 cents) and a one-year jail term each for the offence of operating a Ponzi scheme.

For the offence of carrying on a business without registering with the Guyana Securities Council, Dominguez was fined GUY$100,000 and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. His wife was also fined GUY$100,000 and given a default sentence of six months.