Categories: Regional

Family gets 418 years in prison for cons

NEW YORK –– A Trinidadian couple and their daughter, accused of conning 19 Caribbean immigrants in the United States of more than US$1.8 million, have been sentenced to a total of 418 years in prison.

In the sentence handed down yesterday, Shane Ramsundar, 52, his 48-year-old wife Gomatee Ramsundar and daughter Shantal, 23, were described by the judge as “the most despicable gang of criminals to ever sit in front of me”.

Shane Ramsundar received the maximum 235-year sentence. His wife was sentenced to 153 years and daughter 30 years.

Shane Ramsundar listens to his sentencing Wednesday at Queens Supreme Court for running a US$1.8-million immigration and real estate scheme.

The three were found guilty last November of grand larceny.

Prosecutors said Shane Ramsundar told immigrants that he could get their names on terror watch lists, or prevent their deportation by getting them green cards.

Assistant District Attorney Catherine Kane said: “They stole from their own people afraid of reporting to the police, terrified of being deported back to a place where they had no one to go home to.”

One of the victims was an immigrant suffering with multiple sclerosis who gave the family of con artists US$43,000 after being told that at he was about to be deported.

Ramsundar also fooled immigrants into believing that he could get them cheap housing.

Prosecutors said that the family used some of the money to buy cars, expensive hand bags, and go on shopping sprees.

Barbados Today

Barbados Today is the leading news service in Barbados. Founded in January 2010, with the mission to keep you informed, we aim to share news on matters of national interest, raise the level of public debate and help our readers make informed decisions in their daily lives. We do this by building confidence in our content through consistency. We strive for accuracy, accountability and maturity in our reporting at all times.

View Comments

Recent Posts

PM Mottley eyes opportunities for artists and designers in Africa and the Pacific

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is looking to Africa and the Pacific for new growth prospects for artists and designers…

4 hours ago

Motorcyclist suffers head injuries in collision with car

  A motorcyclist suffered serious head injuries in a collision at the intersection of Drax Hall Road and Greens Road,…

6 hours ago

Police investigate an unnatural death

Police are investigating the unnatural death of Shamar Rojoe Bascombe of Hannay's Valley, Windsor, Christ Church. Lawmen say Bascombe was…

7 hours ago

Caribbean, a laboratory for climate change, says WFP

UNITED NATIONS, CMC –  The United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) has described Latin America and the Caribbean as “a laboratory…

8 hours ago

It’s not business as usual, says Minister Kirk Humphrey

A changing economic environment, coupled with the effects of climate change, will require every Barbadian citizen to adapt to a…

8 hours ago

West Indies beat India to level T20 series at 1-1

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (AFP) –  Opener Lendl Simmons struck an unbeaten 67 as West Indies beat India by eight wickets in the second Twenty20 international on Sunday…

10 hours ago