Latest reported scam involves U.S. visas

Tonight another Belizean man is accused of conning gullible citizens out of their hard earned cash. According to police, two years ago, sixty-two year old Berisford Castillo was able to convince at least two people that, for a small amount cash, he could procure a U.S. visa for them. The first person to be duped was forty-eight year old Bernard Williams who says Castillo, identifying himself as “Linton”, claimed that he was an employee of the U.S. Embassy. Williams believed the story and handed over his passport, birth paper, and two hundred and twenty dollars. Also in October 2005, sixty-two year old food vendor Annis Milas says “Linton” sold her the same line and she also handed over two hundred bucks and personal documents. Both Milas and Williams soon realised they were being duped, but when they finally tracked “Linton” to a guesthouse on North Front Street, all they found in his room was a bag with their passports and birth papers. The case sat dormant until someone spotted Linton near the Belcan Bridge this week. Investigators immediately arrested him and tonight Berisford Castillo is charged with two counts of Obtaining Property by Deception. If you or someone you know was also a victim of Linton’s lies, please contact the nearest police station.