The public officer accused of stealing more than a million dollars from GOB was remanded today after entering into a plea agreement with the DPP. Former Senior Accountant at the National Sports Council, 43 year old Ivan Ayuso, was caught in 2021 embezzling government funds and was charged with theft, uttering upon a forged document, and money laundering. He was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 by the lower court back in 2021, but today he pleaded guilty to four counts of theft, 1 count of theft for stealing $1.05 million dollars and three counts of money laundering.
And even though he was remanded to prison pending sentencing - he told our court reporter that he was happy to get the weight off his shoulders:
Reporter
"Mr. Ayuso, how do you feel?"
Ivan Ayuso
"Weight off my shoulder."
As a result of his plea deal he may face up to 5 years in prison. A trial would have included over 39 witnesses and taken over two weeks. The DPP Cheryl Lynn Vidal today made note of the aggravating factors of the offense including the fact that the money Ayuso stole was property of the National Sports Council, a government entity.
His mitigation plea is set for October 10 before Justice Nigel Pilgrim. His sentencing is set for October 19th. Ayuso was represented by Attorney Darrell Bradley who appeared virtually.
Notably, in 2004, Ayuso - who was a Cashier at the time - was charged for the arson of the Paslow Building where police believed the motive for setting the blaze was to cover missing money. However, a jury found him not guilty.
Email
Print