Woman in ‘fake clothing’ business pleads guilty

A former student of the St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown who scammed 11 customers with her fake clothing business was urged to use her education for a meaningful and legal purpose.

Tasheca Bacchus,26, of Arnos Vale, appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John on Tuesday April 2,2024, where she pleaded guilty that between April 26, 2023 and January 26, 2024 at Kingstown, she impersonated one “Janice Timm,” and deceitfully obtained approximately $1,700 from 11 customers using her fake clothing business on Facebook named, “Kidz World.”

The arrangement was for clients to make a down payment of 50% to 75% and pay the remainder when they received the items in three weeks. Bacchus arranged for an employee,  Vickie Haywood, to meet with all clients in Kingstown to collect payments on her behalf and issue receipts to each client, then have someone else collect the payments from Haywood on her behalf.

After several weeks of clients complaining about not receiving their goods, Haywood grew suspicious and contacted the page, which stated that there was a delay and that they would inform the clients about the circumstances. About a week later, Haywood was still receiving complaints from clients as they were yet to receive their goods, so she asked the page to refund the customers their money, to which Bacchus agreed.

Bacchus then sent several photos of more shoes from different clients to Haywood, and told her that she should collect money from these people in order to refund the unhappy clients. This order caused Haywood to grow even more suspicious. As a result, Haywood reported the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department, and PC 105 Castello entertained her report. Bacchus was cautioned and interviewed, then arrested and charged for the offences of deception.

After hearing the facts, Senior Magistrate John remanded Bacchus into custody for two nights so she could decide if she is fond of the accommodation that prison offers. When Bacchus reappeared before John on Thursday April 4, 2024, she pleaded guilty to two additional deception charges that were laid against her. When asked by the Senior Magistrate how was her stay in prison, Bacchus said “very bad” because she had to sleep with a number of other females.

“So do you like that accommodation?” John asked. Bacchus responded in the negative.

“It’s a place where you can go for a long time, you know that? What do you have to say about that?” John further questioned.

Bacchus responded, “It is a conviction I wish not to repeat in the near future”. John then asked her if it is an offence that she would commit “after a long time time”, Bacchus said “no”.

When asked about her educational background, Bacchus said she is a graduate of the St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown where she wrote seven CSEC subjects and passed five.

“You can use your education for a more meaningful and legal purpose,” John said to her.

He outlined that the maximum penalty for offences of this nature is two years imprisonment. He said he considered her guilty plea and, prior to these convictions, she had a clear record. John also considered that Bacchus seemed “somewhat” remorseful for her actions.

Bacchus received a six month suspended sentence for one year. She was also ordered to pay the 11 persons their money in one month, or she will be sentenced to three months in prison. Bacchus was already on a bond and ordered to pay compensation when she was arraigned in January this year for scamming three other people using the same business. These latter offences were committed around the same period as the first ones, so her bond was not activated.

“When we make these mistakes, we not only cause embarrassment on you as a person, you cause embarrassment on your friends, you cause embarrassment on your family,” the Senior Magistrate said, adding that “because of…[Bacchus’] selfish actions” people may meet her relatives on the street and gossip about them behind their backs.

“We have to consider not only how it would affect us…but how it would affect other persons who care about us and who are connected to us. That’s something you have to think about Ms Bacchus, you hear?” John pointed out.