Gold fraud suspect Sergio Patrick Antonucci
Sergio who is also an American citizen has appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi and denied the charges.
He is accused of fraudulently obtaining Sh165,256,000 (USD 1,271,200) in a gold scam business, December 16, 2024.
The accused pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretences following his arrest Sunday after jetting into the country from Dubai.
The court heard that on diverse dates between March 31 and May 30, 2024 at Nairobi city county within the Republic of Kenya, Sergio conspired to steal the said money, the property of Tanner Caldwell Cook.
He pretended to be in a position to facilitate the sale of 2820 kilograms of gold which was a false pretenses.
The defence lawyer Conrad Maloba asked the court to release the accused on lenient bond terms.
The prosecution did not oppose his release on bond but prayed for stringent terms considering me is a foreigner.
“Your honour we are not opposing the release of the accused person on bond but urge this court for stringent terms considering the accused is a foreigner and he might escape.” The prosecutor told the court.
According to the DCI, establishments made after thorough investigations reveal that Sergio met the complainant sometime in July 2023 in Nevada, Las Vegas, USA introducing himself as a former banker investor and legal consultant who specialised in conducting business in markets that are considered hostile and complex by the United States standards.
“Awed by the profile, the complainant who happens to be a fellow compatriot contracted him (Sergio) to protect his gold transactions in Africa assuming that he was licensed and for this paid him USD 50,000 signing bonus on the 29th August, 2023, followed by a 15,000 US Dollars payment on the 24th of January, 2024 and a further 15,000 US Dollars on February 28, 2024.” The DCI explained.
In the broad scheme that has also seen a Congolese accomplice (Eric Kalala Mukendi) charged, the victim was made to fly to Nairobi where Sergio introduced him to another American accomplice, Caden Gebhard, whom he presented as an active-duty US Soldier with the 19th Special Forces Group.
Allegedly, Caden was critical in the business since he had contacts in the region. It was following the meeting that the complainant was also introduced to the alleged owner of the gold and the licensed exporter at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Hurligham, Nairobi.
“Oblivious of his compatriots’ plot to fleece him, the complainant through his company AURUMSIC ONE LLC entered into a Sales and Purchase Agreement with the seller company – AERO Logistics – for the sale of 2820Kg of gold in which he ended up paying an amount of USD 1,271,200 in the said transaction that was executed on diverse dates between 31st March, 2024 and 30th May 2024.” The DCI added.
In the end, no consignment was delivered prompting the matter to be reported to the police.
He was released on bond of Sh10million with a Kenyan surety of similar amount.
The matter will be mentioned on January 23, 2025.
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