Twenty-four-year-old Careba Salmon, one of the accused in an extortion racket targeting businesses operators here, pleaded guilty in the Manchester Parish Court on Wednesday.
Sentencing has been set for April 21.
Salmon is one of five people answering to extortion and conspiracy to extort charges.
The other accused are Sheila Smith, 64; Keeno Powell, 21; Beko March, 21 and 20-year-old Sandre Bogle.
Following a court appearance of all five accused in the Manchester Parish Court last Friday, Judge Desiree Alleyne directed that they all be remanded until April 19.
Salmon, however, had an interest in re-appearing before the judge on the same day.
On her return, Alleyne advised that her reason for seeking that opportunity should not be rushed and gave her the earlier court date of April 5.
The alleged extortion racket has left members of the Manchester business community distressed.
At a recent forum organised by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce to give the police a chance to provide an update directly and offer some reassurance, a concern expressed was that if the penalties are not stringent enough it would have defeated the purpose of taking the matter before the court.
A representative from the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch disclosed that a person guilty of extortion could get up to 15 years imprisonment.
She reinforced, however, that ultimately the sentence that is handed down is dependent on the discretion of the judge.
At the previous court appearances for the extortion accused, Alleyne had been reluctant in granting bail because of what she said was the seriousness of the death threats in the extortion letters.
Salmon’s attorney said that she is a mother of a 5-year-old son and a real estate consultant by profession.
Alicia Sutherland
Salmon, once again, should be imprisoned till a prison grung shi bury pon! 15 fi extortion and 5 added for malicious intent of the death threats=20 unda har ass.
She involve in all manners of ill gotten gains. Real estate consultant today…:D