The Dangriga Police Department have arrested Dencil Leroy Alvarez, 24, a bank teller of #1134 Benguche Area, and Alexander Palacio, Jr., 31, unemployed, a resident of #1325 Lakeland Area, in connection with obtaining property by deception and abetment of the crime of obtaining property by deception.
Alvarez was charged with six counts of abetment of the crime of obtaining property by deception and Palacio was charged with six counts of obtaining property by deception.
Michelle Guzman, of the Belize Bank Limited, Dangriga Branch, told police that she discovered a total of $23, 590 in alleged fraudulent cash advances at her Dangriga branch. There were a total of six separate transactions made on deceased Franco Gentile’s UNICA Master Credit Card.
Police say that the bank’s security footage shows, “Alexander Palacio, Jr. approached the same bank teller, Dencil Leroy Alvarez, on all six transactions.”
Police also said that there was a breech in the bank procedures during the transactions; a California driver’s license, which did not appear genuine, was used.
A total of six transactions was conducted: the first on October 3, 2011, a sum of $2,515 was withdrawn; on October 5, 2011, a sum of $3,015 was withdrawn; on October 7, 2011, a sum of $3,015 was withdrawn; October 11, 2011, a sum of $6,015 was withdrawn; on October 13, 2011, a sum of $6,015 was withdrawn; and on October 17, 2011, a sum of $6,015 was withdrawn. A total of $23,590.
Police told us yesterday that they arrested and charged both Palacio and Alvarez; both men were taken to the Dangria Town Magistrate’s Court, where they were read the respective charges. They were offered bail of $8,000 each plus two sureties of $4,000 each, under the condition that they surrender all travel documents.
The police told us that none of the items was recovered.
The owner of the card was one Franco Gentile, 69, a United States citizen who had been residing in Belize for a few years up until his tragic death in August, 2011.
Gentile was driving his 2006 Toyota Prado in the direction of Silk Grass on August 9, 2011, between Miles 1and 2 when he suddenly lost control of his vehicle, causing the vehicle to flip. Gentile died immediately from head and body injuries but his passenger, Jennifer Augustine, 48, survived.
Gentile was the owner of Luba Haiti, a Mediterranean resort in Placencia.