KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man accused of fleecing a woman of US$40,000 in relation to the sale of a parcel of land was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

The accused, identified as Courtney Grey, of a Portland address, has been charged with fraudulent conversion.

Allegations are that the complainant, who resides overseas, approached Grey regarding a parcel of land he had advertised for sale in Portland. The complainant reportedly sent Grey US$40,000 via wire transfer to secure the land and to begin construction.

However, communication with Grey reportedly dwindled, and the complainant was unable to obtain the land title.

According to the Crown, no building materials were ever purchased by Grey.

Grey reportedly repaid the complainant US$9,975, after which all communication between the two ceased.

The complainant later filed a report with the police, which led to Grey’s arrest.

Grey’s attorney argued that the land in question is owned by her client’s mother, and the necessary transfer process was underway to have the land transferred to the complainant.

She further stated that the complainant had previously been able to locate Grey in Portland.

“Mr Grey indicated that he intends to pay the sum in full and stated that he is asking for some time,” his attorney told presiding judge Simone Walker-McFarlane.

She also requested that Grey be granted bail on the grounds that he had begun making restitution and had complied with the police during the investigation.

However, the Crown countered that Grey had not made a concerted effort to reimburse the complainant, as his only payment was made in 2023.

“Counsel, you stood and you submitted on behalf of Mr Grey that the lines of communication with Mr Grey and the complainant have always been open. He lives in the same area, and she is able to find him. But from 2023, he paid approximately US$9,975, and we are in 2025. August now, and he has not attempted to pay one dollar more. He had to be drawn to court for a nephew to bring $300,000 today. Two years,” Judge Walker-McFarlane remarked.

Grey’s attorney, however, maintained that in 2023 the complainant had requested US$10,000 pending the issuance of the title, and that the agreement for the sale of the land still stood.

The Crown, in reading the complainant’s statement in court, noted that the complainant had told Grey: “I don’t want to do business with you anymore. I want back my money.”

Grey is expected to return to court on September 15, 2025, when his attorney is expected to make a formal bail application.

— Vanassa McKenzie