‘Sweet mout’ tricks Marcia Griffiths - Singer laments being duped by con man

Reggae singer-songwriter Marcia Griffiths is clutching to her optimism as she waits to see if Ray Morgan, who defrauded her of almost $5 million, will start making payments this Thursday.

An ex-convict, Morgan pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining money by false pretences in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on October 4 and also promised to repay the reggae veteran.

"To be honest, I am not expecting anything. I have little to no expectations of this man. The judge ordered him to pay the money back ... and we are back in court this week," Griffiths told THE STAR. "I was hoping they would ask what he did with the money. While it would be a pleasant surprise to have him pay it back, because that is what we want ... to have the money back to return it to where it came from. I don't see how he will."

The Dreamland singer never imagined that she would be sitting in a courthouse under these or any circumstances and described her interactions with Morgan as "unfortunate" because she allowed herself to fall prey to him.

It was reported that Morgan, after their introduction last year, collected US$30,000 and J$250,000 from the singer as payment for a property that would be used to build a museum to preserve her legacy. Following the transaction, Griffiths made several attempts to contact him but was unable to, which caused her to file a complaint to the police.

"When I look at myself in a courthouse, which I have never been in one in my life, I would say, 'Why me?' because I don't fall for these sorts of things. But you see this man, he was so convincing with him sweet mout'. He is a true professional con man and although I never heard of him, it seems he was known for that type of wrongdoing," she said. Griffiths added that the experience has taught her to be more vigilant.

"It is like I have been to a university. Just this experience alone has shown me not to accept everything you hear. When I read my Bible and when I see certain things, I learn that the devil can speak as if God sent him, but you have to be wise and ask God to help you make the right decision. You have to check every detail out. People can abuse feelings when you are desperate and just like people come in all forms, the devil comes in all forms and that's what I learned," Griffiths said.

Meanwhile, Griffiths said that a former lead singer of an American R&B group has shared his interest in recording with her, but nothing has been put on paper. Griffiths recently returned from Atlanta where she performed with Michael Bolton and is busy in studio with Beres Hammond working on a track for Charlie Wilson. She also released a new single titled See Dem A Gwaan on the Harmony House label two weeks ago.