14 suspects arrested in Lavington over Ksh.174M gold scam

According to the DCI, the detectives identified a house along Chalbi Drive within Lavington, Nairobi where the suspects conducted fraudulent transactions and also smelted 2,820 Kilograms of gold between March and May last year. 

14 individuals, believed to be orchestrators of the operations, were found occupying various offices at the house. 

They include Ronald Osonga Khejiria, Emmanuel Wafula Thatcher, Willy Kiplimo Metto, Sharon Achieng Ouma, Tracey Achieng, Luck Bahaya Butelezi, Willis Odhiambo Koyi and Erina Notoila Gitau. 

Others are Edgar Wafula Odinga, Patrick Kariuki Mahugu, Denis Osoo, Boniface Nemesis Waswa, John Michugu Gathaira and Eliud Wachira Githaiga. 

Also seized from the premises were assorted documents, files, stamps, and seals used to scam the complainant and other victims who fell into the perpetrators' schemes. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were linked to United States citizen, Antonucci Sergio Patrick who was arraigned in court last month for allegedly obtaining money by false pretences.

Sergio is said to have conned a fellow American by purporting to conduct gold transactions using his networks in Kenya. 

The victim paid Sergio a Ksh.6.4 million signing bonus in August 2023, followed by a Ksh.1.9 million payment in January last year and a further Ksh.2 million in February 2024. 

Sergio was apprehended last month after he jetted into the country from Dubai and arraigned at Milimani Law Courts for plea-taking. He pleaded not guilty and was granted a bond of Ksh.10 million plus one Kenyan surety.