Dangriga taximan accused of $8750 scam

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Dangriga taxi operator has been granted bail after being charged in connection with an alleged $8,750 money transfer deception scheme involving promises to “clean” a man’s police record.

Glenford Castillo Jr., of the Benguche area in Dangriga Town, appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate in Court #1 on Tuesday on a single charge of obtaining a money transfer by deception. He pleaded not guilty.

The allegation stems from a complaint made by a 49-year-old fisherman from Belize City, who told police he believed he had been scammed after paying thousands of dollars into bank accounts in the name of an attorney and another account holder.

The fisherman reported that after receiving a phone number from Castillo, he was led to believe he was dealing with an attorney who could assist in clearing his police record and helping him obtain a firearm license. Between January and February 2026, Petillo said he made several online transfers totaling $7,700 to a Belize Bank account in the attorney’s name, along with an additional $1,050 to another account for the purported firearm license process.

However, when the fisherman later applied for and received his police record on March 18, 2026, he found that nothing had changed. He then reported that the person behind the number stopped answering his calls and messages, leading him to believe he had been deceived.

Following a police investigation, Castillo was detained in Dangriga and later handed over to Belize City police, where he was formally charged.

With no objection to bail, the Chief Magistrate granted Castillo bail in the sum of $6,000 plus two sureties of $3,000 each.

As part of his bail conditions, Castillo must report to the Dangriga Police Station twice weekly, every Tuesday and Friday, between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

He is scheduled to return to court on May 27, 2026.