A 30 year old Bodden Town woman and mother of three was found guilty of four offenses relating to counterfeit cash Friday by a jury.
Shannon Ebanks was convicted of possessing and using a forged CI$10 bill in the Evaglow bar in Bodden Town in and possessing more than 40 partially printed CI$25 bills and equipment that could be used to in counterfeiting such as paper, a copier, metallic pens, a counterfeit detection pen and the same types of metal strips used in CIMA currency at her home which she shared with her boyfriend. Ebanks had denied knowing the bill she used in the bar was forged or anything about the hidden cash which police had found secreted in a magazine on a high shelf in the bathroom she and her partner shared.
During the week long trial, Ebanks defense attorney, John Furniss had argued that there was no forensic evidence such as DNA or prints on the fake notes found at home to link her to them and anyone of a number of people who were staying and visiting the house could have hidden the fake notes. Ebanks also took the stand and denied knowing anything about the partially printed fake notes or that the money she claimed had been given to her in change was forged. In addition, her boyfriend, Shane Bodden also gave evidence on her behalf and admitted that the silver strips were his having come from old notes, that he said had been washed by mistake.
However, crown counsel, Kenneth Ferguson argued that Ebanks did have knowledge that the money she used in the bar was fake as a result of the totality of the evidence. He pointed to the coincidence of her using forged money in a bar which she claimed had been given to her at Foster’s supermarket and yet a few months later forged cash was also found hidden in her home along with equipment used to make counterfeit currency.
The judge directed the jury on Friday morning that the key issue in the case was whether or not Ebanks knew the cash she used in the bar was fake or not and whether she had knowledge of the fake notes hidden in her home and that the paper, metal strips and pens etc were being used to make forged money. He said they could only find Ebanks guilty if they were sure she had that knowledge.
Following the discharge of one member of the jury as a result of illness, it took the remaining three men and three women, three hours to return their guilty verdicts and Ebanks was bailed to appear for sentencing in February.
