NASSAU-An undocumented Jamaican immigrant married a Haitian man after stealing a Bahamian woman’s identity.
Marlene Stephens, 43, on Wednesday acknowledged multiple counts of fraud and possession of false documents.
The housekeeper changed her plea before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after she spent four months on remand.
Magistrate McKinney sentenced Stephens to two years, with credit for time spent in custody. Stephens, who’s been in the country for 10 years, will be deported after serving her time.
Police arrested Stephens at the National Insurance Board on March 11, 2020 when she tried to renew a NIB card in the name Lakera Poitier.
Officials called police after realizing that Lakera Rolle had reported the same card stolen in 2018. Also, the photo on record did not match the one on the card.
When the officers searched Stephens, they seized a Bahamian passport and a voter’s card in the name of Lakera Poitier.
Stephen had changed her surname from Rolle to Poitier by deed poll, the court heard.
Investigators later learned that Stephens married Haitian citizen Frantz Saint-Louis using the stolen identity in September 2018.
During her police interview, Stephens claimed that Ms Rolle gave her the NIB. However, Ms Rolle denied this during a confrontation.
Stephens admitted eight counts of possession of a false document, five counts of fraud by false pretences, deceit of a public officer and making a false declaration of marriage.
Attorney Bernard Ferguson asked the court to go on easy on Stephens, as she only sought a better life.
But the magistrate said she tried to improve her situation in the wrong way.
Magistrate McKinney sentenced Stephens to two years, with credit for time spent on remand. She’ll be deported after serving her time.
Inspector Lakisia Moss prosecuted.
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