By Paul Reid & Keril Wright Staff Reporters WESTERN BUREAU:TEDDY MYERS, Montego Bay businessman and 'partner plan' operator, and his son, Trescott Myers, were ordered remanded in custody yesterday when they appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court at Half-Way Tree. The two will return to court on Thursday to face charges arising from the collapse of their month-old partner plan scheme.
Teddy Myers, who operated the Community Partner Club, and his son, have been charged jointly with conspiracy to defraud. In addition, the senior Myers faces three counts of fraudulent conversion and breaches of the Financial Institutions Act. Detective Inspector Fitz Bailey said the case was transferred to Kingston to ensure the safety of those involved.
Attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson is representing father and son.
Myers, the operator of Western Household and Automotive Paints, was taken into custody last Thursday after refund payments to angry investors stalled. Myers was refunding money to investors from an open lot adjacent to the St. James Police Divisional Headquarters when investors became unruly, damaged his vehicle and allegedly set fire to the lot. The police responded with pepper-spray and tear-gas, and two trucks from the St. James Fire Department were sent to put out the blaze.
On the same day, his son, an Air Jamaica reservations clerk, was arrested at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. Detective Inspector Fitz Bailey, of the Police Fraud Squad, the investigating officer, told The Gleaner that Trescott Myers had US$35,200 and an airline ticket to London via Miami.
The Community Partner Club was the latest to hit Montego Bay since the collapse of Winston Gillings' Revolving Plan and Mrs. Esmie Jones' Speedy Cash. The Myers' outfit started operations on March 26 as the Instant Cash Partner Plan. Teddy Myers later changed the name to the Community Partner Club.
Gillings in custody
Winston Gillings, who controls the Revolving Partner plan, one of the earliest pyramid operators to take root in western Jamaica, was taken into custody last Friday. According to Det. Inspector Bailey, Gillings is being questioned as investigations into his activities continue.
"I cannot say at this time whether Mr. Gilling will face the court. We are still in the process of collecting statements," he said.
Esmie Jones remanded
Yesterday, Esmie Jones was taken before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court where she was ordered remanded in custody until next Monday. The court is expected to determine then whether or not she should be assigned a legal aid lawyer.
Mrs. Jones, a former school teacher, told the court that she had no money to pay a lawyer for her defence. "I do not have one cent. If any one in Jamaica can find anywhere that I have any money, they can confiscate it when you find it. I do not have anybody's money, I have paid it all out," she said.
