Man Admits Passing Counterfeit $100 Bill

In Plea Court this morning Lo’Torean Durrant, 21, who said that he was an apprentice chef, pleaded guilty to a charge of passing a $100 counterfeit note and of possessing a $100 counterfeit note.

The DPP prosecutor told the Senior Magistrate that around 6:00pm on 4th August 2012, at the Bermuda Bistro at the Beach on Front Street, Mr Durrant had ordered a drink, tendered a $100 bill for the drink and walked away without waiting for his change.

He was about to leave the Bistro with the drink in his hand when he was stopped by security staff who told him that he could not leave the premises with a drink in his hand.

Shortly after, while trying to finish the drink, having been alerted by a bartender that she had received a $100 counterfeit note, and that the customer had not waited for his change, a manager located and spoke to Durrant who admitted buying the drink and paying for it with the $100 bill.

Police were called. Durrant was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station for questioning. The money was later sent on to the Bermuda Monetary Authority who confirmed that it was a forgery.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Durrant, Duty Counsel Larry Scott said that Durrant had instructed him that he was drunk at the time.

Questioned directly by Senior Magistrate Archie Warner, Durrant said that he had found the money and that he had come from a family picnic. He said: :”I found it on the street.” Asked if he knew that it was counterfeit, Durrant said: “I didn’t know.”

Magistrate Warner set 14th December as sentencing date and ordered a Social Inquiry Report.

#CrimeInBermuda #CurrencyAndCoins #MagistratesAndSupremeCourt

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