Key Takeaways:
- Pashion Akenihia Kumeroa Ramsay, 25, has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for shooting at a house, fraud, and drug offending.
- Ramsay used fake money transfers to buy vehicles from people on Facebook, leaving some victims with significant financial losses.
- She also attempted to smuggle drugs and cigarettes to her father, a Mongrel Mob member, in Whanganui prison.
- The court heard that Ramsay’s upbringing was marked by tragedy and difficulty, with her becoming a carer to her siblings at a young age and experiencing violence at the hands of her father.
- The victims of Ramsay’s crimes have spoken out about the traumatic and long-lasting impact of her actions on their lives.
Introduction to the Case
The case of Pashion Akenihia Kumeroa Ramsay is a shocking example of the devastating consequences of fraud, violence, and drug offending. Ramsay, 25, appeared in the Hamilton District Court for sentencing on a range of charges, including shooting at a house, fraud, and drug offending. The court heard that Ramsay’s offending started in October last year, when she began using fake money transfers to buy vehicles from people on Facebook. She would visit their homes, show them a fake money transfer, and then drive off in their vehicles, ignoring their attempts to contact her once they realized they had been duped.
The Fraud Offenses
Ramsay’s fraud offenses were sophisticated and calculating. She would use various aliases, including "Jus Tash", "Yukno Yurit", "Paul White", and "Marjorityy Rulezz", to contact victims who had vehicles for sale on Facebook. She would then visit their homes and show them a fake money transfer, which appeared to the victims that the payment had been sent to their bank accounts. Ramsay would drive off in their vehicles, leaving the victims with significant financial losses. In one case, she stole a Ford Ranger and used it to buy a Honda TRX quad bike for $4500. The victim was left with a significant loss, and Ramsay ignored their attempts to contact her.
The Shooting Incident
Ramsay’s most serious offending was the shooting at a house in February this year. She and an unknown associate met with a young mum and her partner and negotiated a sale price of $32,000 for his vehicle. Ramsay told him she’d transferred the money and sent him a screenshot as confirmation of payment, but explained there would be a delay as he was with a different bank. She then drove off in the ute. When the victim discovered that he had been duped, he made a Facebook post warning others of Ramsay’s behavior. Ramsay responded by driving past the victim’s house and firing three shots from her moving vehicle. One shot pierced the living room window, narrowly missing the victim’s partner, who was sitting on the couch feeding their three-week-old daughter. Three days later, Ramsay drove past again, firing another shot into the house, which went through the kitchen window and traveled about 10m before hitting a wall.
The Smuggling Attempt
Ramsay also admitted to attempting to smuggle drugs and cigarettes to her father, a Mongrel Mob member, in Whanganui prison. She conspired with her father and another woman to take in cannabis, a cellphone, and tobacco. During conversations, Ramsay and her father used code words, such as "nanny Sonja’s", "Evo bumpers", and "car parts", to discuss the contraband. However, when the associate arrived at the prison, a drug dog indicated that she had drugs, and seven separate packages were found, including 12.6g of meth, 28g of cannabis bud, a cellphone, and four packets of tobacco.
The Sentencing
In sentencing Ramsay, Judge Garry Collin acknowledged her tragic and difficult upbringing, which saw her become a carer to her siblings at a young age and experience violence at the hands of her father. However, he also noted that her offending was serious and had a significant impact on the victims. Ramsay’s counsel, Gerard Walsh, urged the judge to issue a decent discount for his client’s upbringing, but Judge Collin said that while Ramsay’s childhood was tragic, it did not excuse her behavior. He sentenced her to two years and eight months in prison, taking into account her remorse and the fact that she had used her cars to fund her P addiction.
The Impact on the Victims
The victims of Ramsay’s crimes have spoken out about the traumatic and long-lasting impact of her actions on their lives. One victim, who was a self-employed contractor, said that he was left feeling "extremely traumatic and humiliating" after being arrested by armed police while waiting for a prospective buyer. He said that Ramsay’s actions had a significant financial, emotional, and psychological impact on his wellbeing, independence, and ability to move forward. Another victim, who was selling his ute after losing his job, said that Ramsay’s offending had left him angry, frustrated, and depressed. He and his partner wanted Ramsay to be sentenced to prison, and they were relieved that she had been held accountable for her actions.
Conclusion
The case of Pashion Akenihia Kumeroa Ramsay is a shocking example of the devastating consequences of fraud, violence, and drug offending. Ramsay’s actions had a significant impact on the victims, leaving them with financial losses, emotional trauma, and a loss of trust in others. While her upbringing was marked by tragedy and difficulty, it does not excuse her behavior, and she must be held accountable for her actions. The sentence of two years and eight months in prison reflects the seriousness of her offending and the need to protect the community from further harm.
