Woman charged for forging passport, identification card in $13M land fraud

Odessa McDonald-Moses, a 33-year-old pregnant mother of two, was today placed on a total of $950,000 bail after appearing before Senior Magistrate Fabyo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts, where she was charged with five criminal offences, including the forgery of a national identification card as well as a passport, and an alleged $13 million land fraud.

She pleaded not guilty to all charges.

According to the case presented by the prosecution, McDonald-Moses is accused of using a false identity and forged official documents in an elaborate scheme that allegedly spanned from April 1 to June 6, 2025, across multiple locations in Georgetown. The charges relate to both attempts to defraud private individuals and the use of forged State-issued identification documents.

The most significant of the allegations involves an incident that reportedly occurred between April 1 and May 22, 2025, on South Road, Georgetown. Investigators say McDonald-Moses obtained $13 million from two individuals, Keon Bess and Orlando Prince, by falsely claiming that she was in a position to sell them a parcel of land located at Parcel 2404 Block 3, Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The prosecution alleges that she had no legal authority to sell the property and misrepresented her identity and role in the transaction. She denied the charge.

The remaining four charges stem from events alleged to have taken place on June 6 at Croal Street, Georgetown, where McDonald-Moses is accused of forging multiple official documents under the name Sharmaine Alexis Patterson.

The first forgery charge alleges that she forged a Guyana National Identification Card, reportedly issued by the Guyana Elections Commission, and presented it as belonging to Sharmaine Alexis Patterson. The second charge involves the same forged identification card being presented to Keon Bess, with the intent to deceive.

The third and fourth forgery charges pertain to a Republic of Guyana passport, allegedly forged in favour of Sharmaine Alexis Patterson. One charge concerns the creation of the passport, while the other relates to its presentation to Keon Bess. McDonald pleaded not guilty to each count.

In arguing against bail, the prosecution raised concerns that McDonald-Moses, if released, could interfere with witnesses and compromise the ongoing investigation. The court was told that she may still have access to forged identification and could potentially flee or assume another false identity. They also highlighted the seriousness of the offences.

McDonald-Moses’ attorney, Meshonn Persaud, dismissed the prosecution’s fears as speculative. She told the court that her client had no prior convictions and is a housewife with no independent income, relying solely on her husband, who is employed by a government ministry.

The attorney also pointed out that McDonald-Moses is pregnant and responsible for two young children, circumstances which, she argued, should weigh in favour of bail.

The lawyer further alleged that her client had been held for more than 72 hours without communication or medical attention.

After hearing both sides, Magistrate Azore granted bail totaling $950,000, distributed across the five charges: $150,000 for obtaining money by false pretense, $150,000 each for uttering a forged document, and $250,000 each for forgery.

McDonald-Moses was ordered to return to court on July 16.