Parris admits to pocketing, laundering cash decade ago

Almost ten years after being charged with stealing more than a quarter million dollars from a client, attorney-at-law Cheraine Nicole Parris threw in the towel and admitted to theft and money-laundering charges.

And to make amends for her crime, today she handed over $10,000 in cash to her attorney, Angela Mitchell-Gittens, in order to continue repaying complainant Ashleigh Morrison some of the stolen $302,000.

“At this stage, Ms Parris is seeking as much as possible to compensate the complainant because, ultimately, I suspect that. . . is what the complainant in this matter requires more than anything else,” Mitchell-Gittens told Justice Randall Worrell before two of Parris’ relatives testified before the No. 2 Supreme Court that they would assist in repaying the stolen money.

The convicted attorney will be sentenced after submissions are made to the court on August 18, when Justice Randall will also be updated on the undertakings made by her relatives.

Parris admitted to stealing the $302,000 belonging to Morrison – the remainder of a larger sum – in 2010. She also pleaded guilty to engaging in money laundering by conducting a series of transactions in moving the cash, being the proceeds of crime.

The money had been earmarked for the purchase of a condominium at which Morrison was residing. The complainant had deposited in Parris’ account, a total of $462,000. Of that amount, $160,000 had been repaid on two separate occasions – $150,000 in the first instance and then $10,000.

This morning, the court heard the steps that two of Parris’ relatives are taking to ensure the remainder of the money is repaid.

An uncle said he was in the process of selling property and as soon as that sale was completed, he would help Parris and other family members would also assist.

Her cousin, a local car dealer, said he was “willing to assist as much as humanly possible” and was ready to front some of the amount through the sale or transfer of the deed of a vehicle.

“We are into the realm of restorative justice right now . . . . I have been speaking for them for a little while . . . and if things can be restored . . . an approach which is taken in many countries, then let us try to see if we can practice some kind of restorative justice until it is placed on the books,” Justice Worrell said.

Parris will remain on bail pending sentencing, after Mitchell-Gittens made the submission for a continuation of bail, for the status quo to remain and in light of the fact that “tangible steps” were being made to compensate Morrison.

“And given that this conviction will have serious implications for Ms Parris, professionally, going forward, no doubt there are things that she will need to put in place. I am asking that she remains on bail pending sentencing, so that she can deal with this issue of compensation, with a view to fully compensating the complainant before sentence in this matter,” her attorney added.

While Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale did not object to the submission, he made it clear that the now convicted woman should be aware that “this is not an indication of a sentence”.

“There is still the possibility of incarceration and most of all that she also understands that I have heard about compensation for the complainant but in lieu of custodial sentence there may be other things that she may have to contemplate as far as fines may be concerned,” he added.

On September 16, 2010, Parris was arrested and formerly charged that between April 15 and August 16 of that same year, she stole $462,000 belonging to Morrison, a horse trainer residing at Unit 115 Golden View Condominiums, Sunset Crest, St James.

Morrison decided to purchase the residence, which was owned by a man in the United States, when it was put up for sale in 2007.

She retained the services of a lawyer who later died but not before informing her about transferring the matter to a colleague, Parris, which was done.

After meeting with her new attorney, Morrison wrote a cheque for $30,000, representing five per cent deposit on the property, made payable to Parris. The attorney also informed Morrison that her legal fees associated with the transaction were $10,000. In July 2008, Parris was paid via a cheque in the amount of $5,250 which represented half of the legal fees and $250 for the preparation of a will.

In April 2010, Morrison contacted Parris informing her of the desire to complete the sale of the condominium. To that end, she paid over $462,000 towards the purchase and Parris debited the money from Morrison’s account the same day.

But, according to the Deputy DPP, who outlined the facts, Morrison became “troubled and impatient” after some time had passed because there were “no signs of anything positive happening”.

In August 2010, she requested her money back and in the presence of another person, Parris handed her a cheque for the full $462,000, but it subsequently bounced.

Morrison requested her money on three additional occasions but, despite promises, never received it.

The matter was reported to police. After Parris was charged, and before the cases were committed to be heard in the High Court, she repaid the sum of $160,000.
fernellawedderburn@barbadostoday.bb