KINGSTON, Jamaica – The police have charged 18 people in five parishes, including a woman, for their involvement in criminal organizations, two of them also face charges for pretending to be police officials.

Charged with impersonating law enforcement officers and being a part of a criminal organization are, Romario Sinclair otherwise called ‘Deeno’ and Linval Forrester, otherwise called ‘Busta’.

The men, who have been identified as members of the ‘Tony Reid’ gang in Westmoreland, are to appear before the Westmoreland Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday, July 21, the police’s Corporate Communications Unit said.

A woman was identified among the gang members charged with participating in a serious offence by a criminal organization. She is Kimesha Williams of a Clarendon address and is to appear before the May Pen Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, September 25, CCU says.

The other people charged with participating in a serious offence by a criminal organization are: Ismael Higgins, Shaquille Barnes and Christopher Lyons of the ‘Scare Dem’ gang and Nathan Campbell and Nicheal Sanford, who are to appear before the St James Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, July 29.

Five members of the ‘Savannah’ gang have also been charged with participating in a serious offence by a criminal organization. CCU named them as: Mario White, Kenric White, Shammar Mitchell, Henry Samuels and Grafton Friths. They are to appear before the May Pen Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, September 25.

Two other men who CCU identified as ‘Falcon’ gang members – Lonzel Reid and Kemar Lester – have been charged with knowingly aiding a criminal organization. They are to appear before the Half Way Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday, August 11.

CCU added Demar James, Javanne Whoupe and Curtis Richards from the Kingston Western area have been charged with breaches of section 6 of the Act, which speaks to being a part of, or participating in a criminal organisation.