WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Five individuals who pleaded guilty to breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act in May, 2016 were sentenced last Friday. 

Of the five, who were all charged with possession of identity information, Steven Ricketts, a 33-year-old construction worker of Williamsfield, Westmoreland, received the highest fine.

He was ordered to pay J$550,000 or serve 18 months imprisonment at hard labour. Another Williamsfield resident, 25-year-old farmer Romeo Campbell, was sentenced to pay J$300,000 or serve 18 months in prison at hard labour.

Meanwhile, Onick Clarke, Travoy Taylor and Kenroy Rhoden, all of Westmoreland addresses, were each slapped with a fine of J$250,000 or 12 months imprisonment at hard labour.

In addition to the fines, all were given an additional probationary sentence. Ricketts, Campbell, Taylor, and Rhoden were sentenced to four years imprisonment at hard labour suspended for three years, while Clarke was sentenced to two years imprisonment at hard labour suspended for two years. This means that if the men commit any offence within a three- or two- year period, respectively, they will then be imprisoned for four or two years, respectively.