Chef Sentenced to One Year for Online Rental Scam

A chef who posed as a landlord on an online marketplace and collected cash deposits from three would-be tenants has been jailed for a year.

Appearing in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, Tyrese Ricardo Marshall, 36, of Craig Road, St Lawrence, Christ Church, pleaded guilty to stealing $1 600 belonging to Terrance Isaacs between July 7 and 11, July 2025; $500 belonging to Racquel Haynes on September 29, 2025; and $500 belonging to Sabrina Weir between May 20 and June 11, this year.

The court heard that, in the first case, Isaacs found an $800 apartment advertised in Maxwell and began communicating with a man who said he was the landlord and gave his name as ‘Jamal Beckles’. The two met, and the complainant handed over $800 as a security deposit and received a receipt. However, the accused contacted Isaacs a few days later, saying that another person was interested in the apartment and asked for the first month’s deposit. The complainant paid the money, but when he tried contacting the accused, it was to no avail. He went to the apartment and was informed by the resident that the residence was not for rent and that they did not know anyone named Jamal Beckles. Isaacs reported the matter to the police.

Haynes, in her apartment hunt, was given the number of a ‘Kevin’ who advertised an apartment in the Maxwell area. She met him, paid a $500 deposit, and later went to the apartment, where a man at the residence informed her that it was never for rent. She tried unsuccessfully to contact ‘Kevin’ to get her money back.

It was a similar story for Weir, who contacted a ‘Darren’ for an apartment in St Lawrence and paid a $500 down payment. After the complainant was unable to reach him, she went to his workplace, where she was informed about the scam that the accused was carrying out.

Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick sentenced Marshall to one year at Dodds for the first theft and six months each for the other two, all to run concurrently.

(JB)