Former YFF director says charges are victimization
In another case brought before the courts today, forty year old Raymond ‘Footie’ Gongora was charged with Handling Stolen Goods. The former director of Youth for the Future and former semi-pro basketball player pleaded not guilty to the charge and was offered a bail of five thousand dollars. The incident occurred on Wednesday when Gongora allegedly went to the police and handed over three items that were stolen from Marina Martinez, a resident of the Fresh Pond Community on the Burrell Boom Road. The items included a gold chain, a Samsung camera and a gold earring; all of which were found in Gongora’s house where his nephew also lives. Gongora says that he is being victimized.
Raymond ‘Footie’ Gongora, Charged with Handling Stolen Goods
“Like I have told you from the starting, that’s where all the pressure came because those people or that lady went directly to Mr. Castro and they were his campaigners and the lady point blank told me that you know Godfrey nuh eena power no more you know and you wah see. I have lived in Fresh Pond for ten years and I haven’t been having those problems and suddenly problems start coming like hand over fist for me. The police had already charged three kids for this thing. They lifted the charge from one of the kids who their mother went to Mr. Henderson and suddenly that person is not charged for what happened; suddenly I’m detained and I actually tried to—I didn’t know anything about—tried to find out what was happening with it. I’m not one to encourage a kid to steal from a neighbour. My neighborhood should be safe because my kids are growing in that neighborhood. That’s why I move to Fresh Pond in the first instance to get away from all this stuff.”
Jules Vasquez, Channel Seven
“We’re stolen goods found in your home?”
Raymond ‘Footie’ Gongora
“No Sir, that’s total lie. That’s a total lie because had my nephew done something like that and told me I would totally take him to the police and let him tell them who and him and what they did because I don’t encourage no youth or no young kids to do negative. I came from stuff like that; you think I want to walk back way in my life?”
Jules Vasquez
“Who is doing all of it?”
Raymond ‘Footie’ Gongora
“I can’t pin point that because I really don’t know but there is a good scapegoat in myself because it’s happening so regularly I don’t understand and sometimes, I mean most of the times I’m at work. I’m not even there. My nephews go to college and they’re not even there.”
Jules Vasquez
“Your nephews have also been charged?”
Raymond ‘Footie’ Gongora
“One of my nephews.”
Duane Moody
“And he lives with you?”
Raymond ‘Footie’ Gongora
“Yes, he does.”
Jules Vasquez
“He was charged with Theft and Handling Stolen Goods?”
Raymond ‘Footie’ Gongora
“Yes.”
Jules Vasquez
“Is that also bogus?
Raymond ‘Footie’ Gongora
“To an extent it is and to an extent it isn’t and I wish I could explain to you but I’ll let the case play out.”
Gongora is set to return to court on March thirteenth.
