Local law enforcement has formally charged a Trinidadian gospel show promoter who was arrested last Friday.
Cornelius Thomas, better known as CJ Thomas, appeared before a Roseau magistrate on Monday and was slapped with the charge of attempted deception.
Bail was objected to and this was upheld.
Thomas is now on remand at the State Prison.
Preliminary inquiry into the matter is set for January 2014.
He is represented by Geoffrey Letang.
Thomas was in Dominica promoting a “Saving Souls” concert featuring international gospel artiste, Vashawn Mitchell when he was arrested.
Reports are that he issued an NCCU check amounting to EC$35,205.00 to a local travel agent but it was later revealed that he had only EC$14.00 in the account.
Further reports indicate he issued another cheque in the amount of EC$48,000.00 to another travel agent who did the necessary due diligence and discovered that he only had EC$600 in that account.
Thomas was taken into custody after an interview on local radio station, Q95.
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions simply because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
Tricky Trini’s luck ran out. I keep telling people that they can fool people but they can’t fool God and they must MOT call the name of The Lord Thy God in vain!! What did he do?? And what happened to him?????
Yes I Mr Justice and Truth, your comments are always after the fact, BUT man do you say a lot! we know that you can read and write but do you have to respond to every ones comment? you seem to come on DNO to fight…you need to take a chill pill man….at times you just don’t get it, (the funnier the better in some cases)..man let the people be…The fwadie in Toronto must be killing the fun activities in your brain..
Relax and take a walk in Scarborough mall..do some shopping…and buy me something nice I will meet you at Canadian Tire..
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
My people please…Don’t judge this young man, we all have deceitful and wicked hearts only JESUS CHRIST can save.
I am laughing at the entire situation cause when the AM PM was a minister he deliberately wrote a bad check – the record is there and it was reported in the news . Why was he not charged with attempted deception. The same man today is trying to ridicule legitimate business men who have business debts.
Free CJ , Free CJ , Free CJ- he may be a con man but there is no solid ground to convict him. If Grenada wants him then arrange extradition. I am amazed that the police ran so quickly to arrest CJ when the police has evidence of money laundering by lawyers , ministers etc and refuse to pursue those money laundering, suit wearing hooligans.
He is not a Dominican. He committed fraud in Dominica. Did you consider this? If he was not caught and arrested, he could easily have left Dominica and those travel agents would be left holding an empty bag. Those who did the transaction would have had to pay for that exorbitant sum of money. They could have been fired. Why should you put your hand in fire for him?
mister don’t know how Dominicans like money he could never pull that off
@ The real one, I guess is because he knows how Dominicans especially those corrupt one like money he chose Dominica.
Robbing and stealing in the name of the lord.
they kept in custody because he is a flight risk so all that should be put into consideration.
Send him to eat d tickets and checks in jail.
If justice is to serve us all the must be consistency. There seems to be very little consistency in the justice system when it comes to the granting of bail in Dominica.
That was going to be a big show. Partner about $83,000 intended to put into your accounts from the show? ….and that portion was only yours…the other profits would add up to twice that amount. Well, turn out was going to be massive.
Jesus still Loves you.. Love him too!
this guy feels like columbus
He hear skerrit getting away and pr and dem supporting him so he rush here to try his luck.
Attempted deception? Let’s see the prosevution prove attempted deception. Writting two checks with insufficient funds in the checking account does not necessarily mean deception.
What is then? You are joking. Tell that to the judge or magistrate.
What he did was fraud and was wrong but he should be granted bail. Many muderers, rapists big time drug dealers are strolling the streets on bail the system realy really sucks.
He’s a foreigner. There’s a possibility of him fleeing the country (Flight Risk) before the matter is heard before the court.
Hes a flight risk. He did the same thing in Grenada. The show was a success, but when the Government came to collect taxes, he was long gone…
Not the Government who came to collect taxes, it was the investor who came to collect his money. That CJ guy went to all ticket outlets and left the country the same day of the show on a speed boat for St. Vincent then flew from St. Vincent to St. Lucia where he got up to his old tricks again but he soon realized that the man he robbed in Grenada has a heavy family presence in St. Lucia he headed to Dominica because had he gone back to SVG he would have been caught because SVG got wind of his habits after they realize he was one name Mr King was in the business of scamming concert goers and investors
Who are you to make such a statement in his favor? Utilize your common sense. Do you not have one? He is not a Dominican and stands a good chance of skipping. If he is granted bail where will he stay, at your house and to walk the streets of Dominica? Not being a Dominican, jail is the best place and for trying to defraud those travel agents of exorbitant sums of money. They are serious crimes. This is a good lesson for him and for others like him.
LOL That’s sad man
I was listening to Q95 this AM when they broke this news. Interestingly, as soon as the verdict was announced by Q95, a certain preacher/pastor identified himself to Matt by name, called the live number and asked to be off air. I know this man of God had to be crushed as once again the testimony of the local church was plunged into money scandal. But as crushing as this is to us Christians, we MUST blame our Spiritual leaders, who failed to preach righteousness, justice and condemn corruption when the nation needed to hear the voice of God, and instead, they chose to accept gifts and we know the bible says gifts blind. So they got blinded and allowed their names to be called in things that the believer’s name had no business in. Because they got so blind, they as watchmen could not even see a sheep in wolves clothing was coming. But you see, the saying goes that the snake we refused to kill in the grass will come back and bite us. That’s exactly what happened to us as the church.
What do you mean they failed to preach righteousness…? Are they talking to babies and young innocent children who have not yet heard the Word of God? It is in the Bible for adults who are Christians. They do not have to be spoon-fed the Word of God. Even before those preachers who came to Dominica to open their churches and those who followed them, they heard and knew what is contained in Holy Scripture. What has to be done is to live it.
@ Justice and Truth, If pastors and pries were preaching righteousness as what exalts a nation, and not money, they would not have joined themselves with and allow their names to be mentioned with those ungodly leaders that curse us publicly, that send us to hell, that refer to themselves as Jesus and others barabas. If they were not preaching a water-down gospel they would tell the people it is wrong to to take another persons wife, let alone to marry them in secret. That’s what I mean by preaching righteousness. Our preachers / priests are too much after money and will accept corrupt money from very corrupt leaders just to stay quiet as evidenced by the New Dominica of today.
Well said… except, this snake is older than u think. Heck, its older than “thought” itself. go kill it if u can. lol
@anonymous, if I try to kill it, not the snake but the people will kill me first. All I can do is point at it from a distance like I am doing now.
I have a couple issues with this one. First of all for that amount of money from an individual who is not a resident of Dominica ( even if they were a resident)I would think that the Travel agencies would demand a certified or Cashier’s check. An individual wanting to write a personal check is a RED flag. Why would he be doing business with travel agents in Dominica if he lives in Trinidad? He is just a (so called) promoter! That is another red flag.
I agree. In this age of technology he did not even need to be at a teavel agency. The tickets could have been purchased online. The stated amount is too much to accept asana personal cheque unless the customer has a history with the agency.
there are toomany people pretending to be Christians and they are worse than the devil.there are some of our nationals living in st marten and they call them selves prophets and prophetess and they commit fraud everyday.they rob their church members and they refuse to pay debts.
D man give me tickets to sell for him and have me embarrassing myself. What the hell.
He did the same thing in Grenada he and another one who goes by the name ‘Mr. King’ and when trouble take them they both tried to implicate a girl name Kimberly in they nonsense. Poor girl had not clue what she was getting herself into
wat is dat
Hope he finds the right Jesus Christ.
I’m not going to judge this young man. His actions would not have destroyed anyone, as the Drugs our own people scatter in our neighborhoods. Shame on all you Magistwet.
Know the difference between judging and speaking the truth. No one is judging him per se but his actions which are evil and deceiving. He deserves to be incarcerated. Let us see if his government will have the audacity to defend him. He committed crimes in Dominica and must pay for them. Did he think Dominicans are so stupid, as the travel agents and they would not have detected his fraudulent actions?
Justice and Truth he committed a crime in Grenada too http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2013/07/03/100-000-00-missing/ he better tell the Dominican Police what he did with Garvey Louison $100,000
Why don’t every body “pay for their crimes in Dominica”?
hmmm …this one is too advanced a con artist….who is not one in that industry?
He was promoting a ‘Saving Souls’ concert, but I hope by the time of his court date, his soul will been saved.
So much for saving souls, eh.
I certainly do not need someone to save my soul. This is between God and me; likewise other Dominicans and God. Pay God homage by also practicing the faith and perform acts of love/charity; he surely does not appear to be one.
He was promoting a ‘Saving Souls’ concert, but I hope before his court date his soul will have been saved.
Souls are not saved overnight or in a few hours. It may take a lifetime. There are no short-cuts.
Try him, and then put him underneath the jail after he is convicted.
c face lol
Well a post dated check is a crime unless it is made clear to the person you are paying. The question is Did he say/state it was a post dated check and did the Travel agent agree to accept the posted check. Or did my boy try to pull a quick one on our Da folks?
Once a cheque is presented for payment and/or travel, it will be regarded as an authentic cheque unless proven otherwise.
How many enterprises will accept a post-dated cheque in this large amount and from an unknown person? You want to bet, none?
You should know he tried to pull his trick on the travel agents. He also did it in Grenada. This is evidence of his intention.
What the travel agents should have done prior to giving him a receipt which I assume they did and allowing him to leave the office, was to conduct an On Line credit international report on him. It is simple and quick. Probably Dominica does not have this system.
So writing a post dated check is a crime all of a sudden?
The business places’ receiving the check clearly knew it was post dated. It was up to them weather they were willing to accept it or not.
Why else would someone write a post-dated check unless they knew they would not have sufficient funds in their account until the date on the check becomes valid.
Why else would someone RECEIVE a post-dated check unless they CLEARLY knew there would NOT currently be sufficient funds in the account until the date on the check becomes valid.
How do we know he wasn’t going to deposit the money in the account by the given time? How do we know the concert in both St.Lucia and Dominica was not going to be a great success enabling him to more than cover any outstanding commitments? How do we even know the allegations coming from Grenada is even true? It could well have been a case of jealous business partners who wanted a bigger ‘slice of the pie’ after they saw how successful the concert was. Did any of us see the contracts? Is there even a warrant out for his arrest in Grenada??
If it was some white men in suits it wouldn’t have been a problem but because it’s a black 22 year old west-indian young man, we fail to believe that he is capable or has the potential of legitimately pulling off a successful event and raking in 10’s of thousands of dollars, through hard work and perseverance. So we’ve already branded him guilty, even before the fact?!!
Then again, I could be wrong and he could be as guilty as SIN!! Let’s see what happens…
Jayson, you must be brain dead… you write a check because you rather not deal with cash, hence a check represents a monitory value which is to be paid until it is cleared. To put it simply the man write the check knowing he well did not have money in the bank a big scam that. You do not write a check pretending to have money when you don’t have it in the bank. Not so financial institutions work…
@ Jason, I’m with you on that. 100% Blacks will keep Blacks down. “All Black men are suspects.” We suspect ourselves. Slavery mentality is just as bad as picking cotton for free.
Smarty! playing bush Lawyers! all your questions and concerns is a matter for the police to establish during the course of their investigations and present their caseto the prosecutor and if a preliminary case is present then the court will proceed as it sees fit. We really need Education on such subjects. My friend do not take it personal we understand where you coming from but remember all cases are deliberated in a court where all your questions will be addressed hope you`re present.
Who said the check was post dated????? If it was post dated the bank would never accept the check muchless to process it… do u even know what a post dated check is?? are you aware that writing bad checks is against the law?
Jayson you must be part and parcel of that conman’s crime to know the cheque was post dated. How do you explain his robbery in Grenada? Was that robbery post dated too? I hope the St. Lucia Police Force start checking into CJ actions while there too
Read this http://www.partygrenada.com/talkshop/pg/messages/25443.html
I don’t see anything about a “post-dated’ check in the article. how did you come up with that?
u are so negative and you must be the same kind of person as him you need to go and stay with him in the jail
How do you know that we in Dominica doh time to answer all those questions there? How do you know that we will put you in jail till we get some solid answers? How do you know that we doh like people to use God name in their Shenanigan? How do you know that he know he did not have no money in no account and knew he was not going to get that money even all the Christians in Dominica went to the show?
All we know is that, he barked up the wrong tree.
It is possible also that the agency accepted the cheque without proper scrutiny.
Why did he not wait until after the concert in Dominica? The man convicted himself. It cannot be assumed that the concert in St. Lucia will be a success. This is counting your chickens before they are hatched. Let him enjoy his stay at stockfarm with the other prisoners.
All my 65 years I always know they call trinidadians trick dadians, sparput in jail in solidarity confinment at stock farm withoutrow wrote about them in many of his songs, barbadians and trinidadians should never be trusted, and i say NEVER he should be put in prison at stockfarm in solidarity confinment with little human contact, becuse he will try to con the prison gaurds, he think he can come to D.A. and trick the so call small island people, thats how they call us [small island people ] or better knowen as [I LOW] HE SHOULD BE PROCECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW he thoutgh he could Pimp God, and the dominican people ,but he fooled himself.
We should feed him gwambe for all three meals.
God is good all the time and all the time God is good. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:16-18).
I am going to sell 75% of my properties including my mansions and my tomb so that poor, poorer and poorest shall not starve.
The love of money is the root of all evil. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Blessed are the poor in spirit who are keen on fixing the nation no matter what.
75% alone?? What happen to the other 25%??
Look boy! fix your face, and say cheeseeeeee for your photo.
It was never stated that this man is a christian,,,,it is stated that he was a promoter in gospel songs…what makes him a sheep in wolf clothing ?Some of us are very thick to understand…none the less murderers and rapists get bail;being a foreigner charged for attempting deception ,are the population more at risk? so help me god..
Will you stand surety for him and welcome him in your house?
After Dominica done with him, send him to Grenada.
While he’s up in the prison for the next few weeks, they should give the oldschool punishment in the meantime, that is writing lines. Everyday he should write “I must not be deceptive” 2000 times.
The pot is telling the kettle that its bottom is BLACK.
This is an example of how screwed up our system is!
A ship from Venezuela was some time ago caught in our territorial waters loaded with illegal dugs. I do not know what penalty the smugglers paid, if any, nevertheless the ship was allowed to return to Venezuela. In every country of the world where custom be, and the police find drugs on any ship, regardless to whom the ship belongs, it confiscated, and sold, and the governments treasury’s benefit from the proceeds.
Dominica government however, gave the ship back to the Venezuelans. We grant bail to drug dealers, rapists, and murderers in our country, however, we deny bail to someone who wrote a couple of checks which bounced.
Even if the checks were cleared, that would not constitute a no bail matter; the man is simply charged with a to my mind a misdemeanor, even if at the moment he is charge with a felony, the magistrate should reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor for which the penalty could result in a matter of one hundred-eighty days in jail or six months.
After all when we are talking about attempted deception, we are simply talking about something that deceives; you know like a trick; it can also be defined as trickery, meaning the acts, or practice of one who deliberately deceives. Although fraud always implies guilt and often criminality, fraud is not murder.
So, if murderers, rapists, and such scum of the earth are granted bail in our country, I fail to see why bail will be denied to someone who wrote two checks which bounced!
If he is not a residence of Dominica, the appropriate action should be immediate deportation!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Bwavo!
In an earlier post I raised some issues about the injustice system that arrest an individual on the basis of a report while others that have been accused of far worse crimes seem to find security. Here is what @ blind bat had to say:
blind bat November 18, 2013
Santa you need to think of three little things; one get a copy of the Company’s Act. Recognize that the accused had access to the accounts because he is a partner and has been making withdrawals. Are you saying that Mano never got a Account statement for that period or there was no business meetings where financial statements were discussed? Are you aware that since Mano was fired from the bench he could not attract business it was Isidore that brought him business and the biggest accounts at that. You wanted the police to arrest a man for using his own money as he saw fit. Also the CIVIL COURT is where such matters are dealt with NOT the CRIMINAL COURT. The Company is Emannuel Isidore and Associates. Stop being clowns in a circus and read some more. My wife cannot get me arrested for using our money can she?
@blind bat, if what you are saying is true then we have to question knowledge of our magistrates where law is concerned because it is a fact that arrets documents were signed by the magistrate. Did she not know what you know?
2. Dominica News Online – Tuesday, December 21st, 2010 at 3:00 PM – At a previous hearing on December 6, 2010, an order of stay was granted by the high court upon request from Isidore’s solicitors. The order prohibited Isidore from being read over 42 charges brought by Emanuel.
Isidore, who was due to face those charges at a Roseau Magistrates, was spared that formality when his solicitors presented the Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste with a high court order which stated that the chief magistrate or any other magistrate is hereby prohibited from hearing the complaints or any other complaints filed by Emmanuel and Associates and or Glensworth Emmanuel against the applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the application for judicial review. You seem to have more knowledge of the law than the court.
3. If it is as simple as you are saying then why SC was asked to join the team? Better yet, to be the lead attorney? Is there something else that needs to be defended other than what you are saying? See DNO here: Dominica News Online – Tuesday, December 21st, 2010 at 3:00 PM “Astaphan told reporters after the proceedings today that he recently decided to assist his colleague in the matter.” they asked me whether I would be prepared to assist and I only had the opportunity to over the weekend. And having read the papers and having looked at all the files I felt it important that I assist a colleague of mine who I believe has been put under unnecessary and wrongful siege. As a result I am now leading the legal team on behalf of Mr. Isidore and the invitation of Mr. Lennox Lawrence. The team also includes as you know Mr. Julien Prevost, and Mrs Heather Felix-Evans,” he said.
Marsh! The dog trying to bite me boy
DNO, when laborites hate unfavorable articles published by you they have you labeled as UWP. If they are correct, then why do you delete so many of my postings especially those that expose Skerrit? In the past 24 hrs alone you rejected over 10 of my comments. Are you now the deputy leader of the Skerrit team? I am surprised you cleared the previous one and hope you clear this one too LOL
AA! I was just about to say that for the first time I doh see they mention somebody name ,Then Bah!!!
There it is. Guess who? lol
I suspect the reason for this is it has no bearing whatsoever on the article. Furthermore, it is defamation of character. If posted, you could put DNO in hot water. Ever gave this a thought?
Why do you have to bring the PM’s name in it? You hate him so much? Pray to God to grant you the grace of a loving heart and one that does not hate. Pray The Our Father.
Alah @Justice and Truth! Where did I cause defamation of Character to the PM’s name? I simply QUOTED articles published by DNO and gave the dates they were published. In my quotes I saw the name of Lenox Linton, Roosevelt Skerrit, GON Emanuel and others. I made no personal comment (s) on any of them. If you saw something that the Pm’s name or any other person that I quoted made you feel uncomfortable, then don’t blame me for that. Blame there action like you blame the actions of this gospel promoter so many times. I DON”T hate the PM! He is a cool guy that I know personally. In fact I like him. Do I like most of his actions?????
Boss, I want my money for my two tickets!
Grenada***
DNO did anyone collect the $10,000.00 from Guyana for this man? For I would presume that when they done with him in Dominica that is the next place he will be shipped too. I think Carlisle deserves it for exposing this man.
yea i think carlisle deserves it a job well done
The $10,000 reward is from Garvey Louison in Grenada a businessman who the same culprit robbed, see the story on partygrenada.com http://www.partygrenada.com/talkshop/pg/messages/25442.html
This is perfect….stick up your self righteous noses now religious people!!… yep yep you have god on your side pray for the bars on you jail cell to disappear
I am still asking the same questions I asked last week. Why are the police so quick to arrest some people while others who have been accused of greater crimes that might have political implications find an EASYDOOR out? I am not looking for thumbs up or thumbs down; I simply need to see “Justice for all” prevail. In Dec. 2010, DNO published the following:
Criminal complaints were filed against Isidore in the magistrate’s court on Nov. 19, 2010 by Emanuel. Isidore faces 35 counts of obtaining property by deception, five charges of false accounting, one charge of false statement by a firm’s partner and one count of theft. The theft charge involves $6,975,070.88 which was allegedly stolen by Isidore from the partnership between 2006 and 2010.
The court had agreed to freeze Isidore’s assets in a move to prevent their dissipation, which could affect the judgment process.
This is not the first time Isidore has been in controversy.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm he really thought he could get away like he did in Grenada. one thing we are not playing in DA you know. don’t worry my boy Grenada is looking for you for that 100.000.00 you run with.
The wolf appears in sheep clothing praising God! This fool really think he could try that stunt! Dominicans so like to expose people especially those who like to make borbol and take people money and run…if it is one thing we’re good at is identifying liars and con artists! Big stone doesn’t throw us down so easily
Remember, the DEVIL was once an ANGEL.
Yes. But never again the Lord said. Unless if this man is Satan on earth.
“Dominicans so like to “expose” people”, “if it is one thing we’re good at is “identifying” liars and con artists!”
I GUESS DOMINICANS ARE NOT VERY GOOD AT EXPOSING NOR IDENTIFYING LIARS AND CON ARTISTS, if we did we would NOT have SO MANY AMONG US.
GO FIGURE.
So right too many “fat wolves” in Roseau. roaming the streets and refusing to work. Law enforcement officials please put them away ASAP.
this is a travesty, a perversion of our justice system … I understand that the man may be a flight risk … but with our very open borders everybody is yet you find people charged with murder , manslaughter , theft , burglary, attempted murder, forgery and a host of other crimes let out on bail! why for attempted deception is the man not allowed bail? Is it because he’s a foreigner ?
Lord save us from our corrupt and unjust selves!!!
YES!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes!!! Our murderers are local!!!! no flight risk
I’m kinda sitting on the fence with you on this one. The sad thing is no matter how much we preach about equality, preference always exists.
Jack in a box. obtaining property by Deception is an offense contrary to the Theft Act. indeed, he is a flight risk and has quite a history of offenses of such kind. I am sure that the authorities are working working external law enforcement agencies as we speak. He will be called upon to answer to offenses of the like in other jurisdictions. He is a corn artist.
Yesterday I read of a criminal that is out on bail for the past SEVEN YEARS. He also entered the Island ILLEGALLY, and is still ROAMING around TRAFFICKING DRUGS. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
It’s ironic that you mentioned (LORD) for that’s the very same thing he was saying that got him in the situation he is or was it (GOD) or was it (SAVING SOULS). I say jail his *** self.
Charged with attempted deception in the interim…Wait till these cheques start coming back ‘Refer to Drawer’..within the next few days. He is a foreign and definitely a flight risk.?? You should volunteer to be his surety..
it takes one to know one
i agree with u
You are right! Cat and dog doh have the same luck.
the local financial institutions here must answer a fundamental questions. What due diligence was done on the “promoter” thus clearing him to open a local bank account here? Nationals when opening an account need to provide evidence of the residence at a particular address. Documents such as utility bills, salary slips, etc etc. are usually demanded in support of an application to open an account. In this scenario we see a foreigner (Caricom national) issuing cheques that were drawn on at least two financial institutions only to find that the accounts cannot support the value of the cheques that were issued against them. What is happening here? The Banks must answer the questions. I understand the National Co-operative Credit Union, my financial institution opened an account and issued a cheque book to the individual. I wonder how many other business places and or individuals were also conned. by the way, genuine Gospel Artists should not be include d in the controversy. the man acted as a con man and the law will deal with him accordingly. the Devil is never idle. He uses things of God and even God’s people to help fulfill his mission.
DNO ADMIN,
Can we at least get a no comment from NCCU? Something!
In my humble opinion, the institution has grown quickly , it has become very competitive and it is possible DUE DILIGENCE HAS GONE out the door.
very good . How long does he want to continue fooling people. Damn kon man.
I hate a liar and a thief.
if
kettle calling the pot black