THREE men accused of swindling US$230,000 from a citizen of the United States, are now before the local court.

Joseph Grant, Kevin Irving and Deon Parrish, who are charged with Breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act by detectives from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) made their first appearance in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court Wednesday.

It is alleged that in mid-2017 MOCA detectives commenced an investigation into lottery scamming activities conducted in several parishes across the island. During the investigation it was revealed that between May 2016 and March 2017, Irving and Parrish, who, on the instructions of Grant, engaged an unsuspecting victim from the United States of America, by way of lottery scamming activities. During the period Grant and his co-accused fleeced this individual of than US$230,000.00.

On Friday, March 1, 2019, about 5:00 am, MOCA, along with the Financial Investigation Division (FID) conducted joint operations at several locations across the island. During a search of the premises targeted several documents and equipment were seized. Parrish, Irving and Grant were subsequently charged.

When the matter was called up in court, Parish Judge Vaughn Smith varied their bail conditions prior to setting a May 13 date for them to return to court.

The accused are to report at the Spanish Town, Olympic Gardens and Constant Spring Police Station, respectively. A finger print order was also made.