Woman guilty over fake cash

| 06/12/2013

(CNS):  A 30-year-old Bodden Town woman and mother of three was found guilty of four offences relating to counterfeit cash Friday by a jury. Shannon Ebanks was convicted of possessing and using a forged CI$10 bill in the Everglo Bar in Bodden Town and possessing more than 40 partially printed CI$25 bills and equipment that could be used in counterfeiting, such as paper, a copier, metallic pens, a counterfeit detection pen and the same types of metal strips used in CIMA currency, at her home, which she shared with her boyfriend. Ebanks had denied knowing the bill she used in the bar was forged or anything about the hidden cash, which police had found hidden in a magazine on a high shelf in the bathroom she and her partner shared.

During the week long trial Ebanks' defense attorney, John Furniss, had argued that there was no forensic evidence such as DNA or prints on the fake notes found at home to link her to them and anyone of a number of people who were staying and visiting the house could have hidden the fake notes. Ebanks also took the stand and denied knowing anything about the partially printed fake notes or that the money she claimed had been given to her in change was forged. In addition, her boyfriend, Shane Bodden, gave evidence on her behalf and admitted that the silver strips were his, having come from old notes that he said had been washed by mistake.

However, crown counsel Kenneth Ferguson argued that Ebanks did have knowledge that the money she used in the bar was fake as a result of the totality of the evidence. He pointed to the coincidence of her using forged money in a bar which she claimed had been given to her at Foster's Supermarket, and yet a few months later forged cash was also found hidden in her home, along with equipment used to make counterfeit currency.

The judge directed the jury on Friday morning that the key issue in the case was whether or not Ebanks knew the cash she used in the bar was fake, whether she had knowledge of the fake notes hidden in her home and that the paper, metal strips and pens, etc, were being used to make forged money. He said they could only find Ebanks guilty if they were sure she had that knowledge.

Following the discharge of one member of the jury as a result of illness, it took the remaining three men and three women three hours to return their guilty verdict. Ebanks was bailed to appear for sentencing in February.    

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Those darn Jamaicans! Ever since the status grants this been happening! Oh, wait. Never mind!

  2. Anonymous says:

    She's turned out to be such a failure, her mother must be so ashamed. Shannon YOU shouldnt even show your face in public, I cant wait to hear what the sentencing will be. How can such a smart girl do something so stupid? I hope you have gotten your wake-up call.

    • Anonymous says:

      Giddy headed girl + wanna be gangsta + ganja/drugs + unplanned children = Train wreck aka Shannon

       

  3. Anonymous says:

    About time the system I send these crooks to jail

    • Anonymous says:

      For curious minds…Shannon and her baby daddy are Caymanian to the bone.

      • Anonymous says:

        We didnt say we dont have Caymanian criminals, we just said we dont need to import any.

  4. Anonymous says:

    This is serious.  Criminality of this sort increases the costs of living for all of us by requiring stores to protect against fake notes.  A long jail sentence is necessary.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Shannon has turned out to be such a hot mess!! I truly hope this is a wakeup call for her and she becomes a better mother and example for her 3 kids. "HOPE" being the operative word.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Everglo.

  7. Anonymous says:

    And why is "…and mother of three…" relevant to this issue?

     

    Crime is crime. Just because a woman has children or grandchildren does not necessairly make her a good person.

     

    She just had unprotected sex. Children often are the hangover after a "woo hoo" party.

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually, I believe that this is relevant as there yet another 3 children who are likely going to have to be looked after by the rest of society and who require finanical gov support so I believethe general public deserves to know who they are supporting…………….

    • Anonymous says:

      CFS has to stop encouraging low livies. Anyone with 3 children should be a working mother, caring for her children, not waiting for handouts.  Shame on you.

    • Anonymous says:

      "And a mother of three", who has never held a job in her 30 years, means she is producing future problems.  Do you get the drift?

  8. Anonymous says:

    Start at 50 years up.  Stop the thieves and lazy bones.  

  9. Anonymous says:

    30 years of age and with three children and a criminal career.. Three. It's easy isn't it? Just get 'em and squeeze them out to a life of………what? And she is one of ours .Creating more Caymanian criminals for the future, probably.