A British man accused of involvement in a scheme that depleted a Canadian couple’s retirement savings asserts he presented evidence to Mexican authorities demonstrating that he did not benefit from the missing funds and that he was also a victim of his co-accused.
Harry Robinson, aged 66, is alleged to have collaborated with a Mexican individual named Jacqueline Herrera Herrera to deceive Cindy Thompson and Glenn Brown from Curve Lake, Ontario, into investing $280,000 in a fraudulent real estate deal involving the purchase and resale of seven condominiums.
Robinson shared a memo and HSBC bank records with CBC News, both submitted to the state attorney general’s office of Quintana Roo, to support his claim that Herrera redirected Thompson and Brown’s money through cashier’s checks and transfers to undisclosed accounts. The memo, dated August 24, states that Herrera controlled an account under the name of Xen Investments, their former business venture, and placed it under a “lock” to prevent Robinson from accessing or moving funds.
While no documented proof of the account lock was provided to CBC News, the memo requests state investigators to obtain the names associated with the cashier’s checks and other bank accounts to track the final destination of the funds.
Robinson emphasized the importance of following the money in fraud cases, pointing out the lack of effort in tracing the missing funds. Nevertheless, state authorities are not currently focused on tracking the money in their case against Robinson and Herrera, as per court records. The primary focus is on proving fraud by deceit, with allegations that the promised real estate units were not substantiated.
Arrest warrants were issued against Herrera and Robinson by a state judge on July 24. Both have secured stays in Mexican federal court against the warrants, while their state-level legal proceedings await a scheduled start date.
Robinson expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment by the prosecutor’s office, maintaining his innocence and highlighting his lack of criminal history. Public records indicate Robinson’s background in Liverpool, Australia, and the U.S., with no evidence of sanctions or legal issues involving him or his ventures.
Robinson mentioned seeking assistance from the U.K. Embassy and clarified his involvement in the deal as a middleman, stating that he believed in the legitimacy of the transaction but did not contribute his own funds.
Herrera has proposed a settlement to repay a portion of the missing money to Thompson and Brown, aiming to avoid criminal charges. She offered to return $2.4 million pesos ($196,000) in two installments and suggested that Robinson is accountable for the remaining sum.
Thompson and Brown face a dilemma regarding Herrera’s settlement offer, uncertain if accepting it would ensure the recovery of the remainder of their funds. Herrera denied an interview but claimed through her lawyer that defrauding Thompson and Brown was never her intention.
The Canadian couple is deliberating their next steps amidst the ongoing investigation and settlement negotiations.