John Spence, the 37-year-old man who was charged with impersonating the son of the United States Ambassador to Guyana was slapped with two additional charges yesterday.

On his previous occasion before the court Spence was ordered to pay a fine and was also sentenced to one year imprisonment and two of his cases were transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

The two files for the indictable charges of obtaining credit by false pretence which had gone to the DPP for advice were read to Spence by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

It is alleged that between October 31 and November 5 at Baganara Resort, Essequibo River, Spence incurred a debt or liability to Angellina’s Traveling by obtaining credit of $130,000 and boat tours worth $277,600; a total cost of $4,407,600.

Further, during the same period at the Baganara Resort he also reportedly incurred a debt or liability to the resort by credit of articles, accommodation, food and beverages worth $234,254.

Spence of Lot 26 Public Road, Bagotstown, was previously charged with three counts of obtaining credit by fraud and impersonation.
It was alleged that between October 21 and 24, Spence at the River View Hotel, Linden, incurred a debt or liability to Audie Webster, by obtaining credit for articles, alcoholic beverages valued $50,540 and hotel accommodation valued $8,000 from the said Webster by means of false pretence. Spence pleaded guilty to this charge.

It was also alleged that between October 31 and November 24 at Baganara Island Resort, Spence falsely and deceitfully impersonated Jamal Jones, the son of the Ambassador of the US to Guyana, John Jones in order to obtain credit for items. Spence also pleaded guilty to this charge.

The prosecution had stated that at River View Hotel, Spence went to Webster and told him that he was the son of the US Ambassador to Guyana. Spence stayed at the hotel and did not pay for the services provided to him. Webster later discovered that he was not Jones and reported the matter to the police station. Spence was later arrested.

The magistrate subsequently fined Spence $40,000 and sentenced him to one year imprisonment. Spence will return to court on December 15.