Accused lottery scammers again remanded
A police constable and seven civilians accused of being involved in lottery scamming were again remanded after their extradition hearing was adjourned until May 24 in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.
The matter was postponed yesterday in order for the Crown to make full disclosure to defence counsellors, and also for the unrepresented accused to settle legal representation.
Constable Jason Jahalal, Alrick McLeod, Dahlia Hunter, O’Neil Brown, Xanu Ann Morgan, Dario Palmer, Karae Gray and Kimberly Hudson have each been indicted on one count of conspiracy and attempting to commit wire fraud, 48 counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering in the state of North Dakota in the United States.
They are alleged to be part of a criminal organisation — Labrick Willock — that manifested in 2009 in Jamaica and elsewhere.
The organisation is alleged to have bilked more than 80 people in the US and elsewhere of US $5.6 million.
It is alleged that the money was sent to middlemen in the US, who then moved it via bank cheques, wire transfer, mail, or courier.
It is further alleged that Hudson’s role was to make calls to the victims informing them that the victims had won the lottery, and that they were to send money to pay the taxes.
Allegations in respect to Jahalal are that he collected US$35,000 through the scheme. It is alleged that Jahalal travelled to Florida in the US and collected US$30,000 through telephone calls and wire transfer.
The court was told that Labrick Willock allegedly instructed Jahalal how to use his Blackberry cellular phone to transfer funds and how to pick them up in Jamaica.
It is alleged that Jahalal collected another US$2,500 via a money transfer service on August 2012 and another US$2,500 subsequently.
Attroney Bert Samules is representing Hudson; Philmore Scott is representing Jahalal; Christopher Townsend is representing Brown and Palmer; while Tom Tavares-Frinson is representing Hunter, Grey and McLeod. The other accused is unrepresented.
— Tanesha Mundle
