Conman defrauds two friends

A 26-year-old man today admitted conning two friends out of thousands of dollars in a fake investment scheme.

Jonathan Ratteray took $3,400 from Marekco Ratteray and $13,940 from Sarah Robinson after he convinced them he could more than double their money in less than a week.

In court this morning, Crown Counsel Carrington Mahoney, said in the first case, the defendant and complainant knew each other from being cell mates in the Co-Educational Facility in the past.

Between May 2 and 4, Marekco Ratteray called the defendant looking for a cheap car to buy.

Jonathan Ratteray of Smith’s then asked him if he wanted to make quick money.

The court heard the defendant told him he had a friend overseas who worked on the stock market and could invest the money.

Jonathan Ratteray told the complainant if he gave him $2,000, he would give him back $4,000 within a week. He gave the defendant the money.

The next day, the defendant contacted him again and said if he gave him more money, he would receive an additional payment the next day.

Marekco Ratteray then gave him $1,400 to invest.

The next day, Jonathan Ratteray, didn't return the money and stopped all communication with the complainant.

Marekco Ratteray then went to the police on May 6 and reported the incident.

Jonathan Ratteray was arrested in June and admitted he used the money to pay bills.

In the second incident, the court heard the defendant met Ms Robinson through a mutual friend at a party.

The pair exchanged numbers and began to talk via What’s App, an instant messenger cell phone app.

During a conversation on June 12, Jonathan Ratteray asked Ms Robinson if she wanted to make some money.

The court heard the complainant wasn’t working and expressed interest.

Jonathan Ratteray told her she would have to put up money. He said if she invested $500, she would getback $2,000 in eight days.

The defendant told her he collects the money, does the “running around” and delivers the money on return.

Mr Mahoney said the defendant told Ms Robinson the money is sent overseas by Money Gram and is returned the same way.

Ms Robinson then told Jonathan Ratteray that is sounded like a “pyramid scheme”.

The defendant then sent her a picture of a large amount of US currency he claimed he was counting for an investor.

Ms Robinson asked him if there was documentation for her to sign so that she could be assured she would get her money back.

Jonathan Ratteray told her no because it was “underhanded”.

Ms Robinson met up with Jonathan Ratteray and gave him $500 on June 12. She gave the rest of the money between June 15 and June 26.

The court then heard she felt like she was being “scammed”. Jonathan Ratteray then put her in touch with a man called Davion Lewis who was allegedly the man overseas.

Ms Robinson had a conversation with Mr Lewis on an instant messenger called “Hooked”.

It was then she realised she was being conned.

The court heard Jonathan Ratteray was pretending to be Mr Lewis.

He was arrested and admitted creating a false investment scheme and taking the money from Ms Robinson.

He told the police he used her money to pay his bills. He also said there was no one else working with him on the scheme.

Addressing the court, the defendant said he wanted to pay back the money but wasn’t working.

He said he had a job interview on Tuesday and has another on Friday.

“I was wondering if I could pay through the courts to pay back or work out a payment plan.

“I have some money, $1,800 right now.”

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner adjourned the matter to October 3 for sentencing and ordered pre-sentencing reports.

The defendant was granted $10,000 bail with one surety.