7 News Belize

American Couple Scams Big Bucks from Major Hotels
posted (February 11, 2009)

They came as tourists, lived like millionaires but are now the only sightseeing two tourists are doing is watching the walls inside the Belize Central Prison. They are remanded after allegedly scamming two “primo” hotels out of thousands of dollars in accommodation fees. They were unable to pay their hefty hotel bills of over eighteen thousand Belize dollars.

James Brady and Jennifer Scheolch arrived in the country two weeks ago but their problems started on January seventeenth after they checked in at Robert’s Grove situated on the Placencia Peninsula. The couple reportedly owes the hotel $9,417.22. Apparently James Brady had apparently paid the bill with some else’s account that he had allegedly stolen. It has since been verified by Chase Bank in the U.S. that James Brady had fraudulently using another person’s account to pay his hotel bill.

Of course by the time all of this had been verified James Brady and Jennifer Scheolch had already checked out but instead of leaving the country we understand the couple travelled west where they checked in at the San Ignacio Hotel. Once again after staying at the hotel for one week the couple were unable to pay their bill. You guessed it, cha-ching, another $9,000.

And this is where we understand the couple finally ran out of luck as they were caught by police. On Tuesday the American couple appeared in San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court where they were informed that until they are able to settle their bills they will remain on remand.

But James Brady has more than just a huge hotel bill to pay. According to Belize Police, James Brady is a wanted man in the United States. Authorities after they checked with the U.S. Embassy they were informed that James Brady is a registered sex offender and is wanted for an offence in that country. Belize law enforcement has been in contact with their counterparts in the United States.

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