Three convicted in $61-m cybercrime and money laundering scheme
KINGSTON, Jamaica —Three people have been convicted in the Corporate Area Parish Court for their roles in a $61-million fraud and money-laundering scheme that relied on SIM-swap tactics and money mules to siphon funds from victims’ bank accounts.
The convictions follow a 2021 report from a local financial institution that triggered a joint investigation led by the Financial Investigations Division (FID) in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). The probe involved the Constabulary Financial Unit (CFU) within the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC) and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA).
The three convicted individuals are young to early middle-aged adults, two customer service representatives aged 25 and 29, and a 32-year-old self-employed man.
Investigators say their roles ranged from granting access to computer systems to engaging in financial transactions involving criminal property. Their sentencing is set for Thursday, November 6, 2025.
The offences include engaging in transactions involving criminal property, unauthorised access to computer data and devices, and unlawfully making available devices or data for the commission of offences.
According to investigators, the network relied on SIM-swap fraud. Victims first lost control of their mobile numbers through social-engineering tactics. The perpetrators then created or hijacked online banking profiles and diverted funds into accounts controlled by “money mules,” who rapidly withdrew the cash to frustrate recovery efforts.
In total, nine people are facing justice in connection with the scheme. While three have been convicted, six others remain before the courts. Those still facing charges represent a broad cross-section of society, including a 34-year-old accountant, a 24-year-old account associate, a 23-year-old legal filing clerk, a 35-year-old counter clerk, and others involved in professional and junior roles.
Authorities say the diversity of the accused ranging from early twenties to mid-thirties, and spanning various professions demonstrates that cyber-enabled money-mule operations cut across gender, age, and occupation, and highlight the need for vigilance by both institutions and individuals.
Principal Director of Financial Crimes Investigations at the FID, Keith Darien said the outcome reflects the strength of Jamaica’s integrated law-enforcement approach.
“The FID works shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners in the JCF, including specialist units such as C-TOC, sharing intelligence, building joint cases, and moving decisively from detection to arrest to prosecution,” Darien stated.
“Over the past year, combined strategies in operations, training, and policy have measurably improved our detection, interception, and apprehend offenders, enabled the dismantling of crminal networks, and resuled in more charges laid and more vuctories in the courts.”
He added that the convictions reinforce the message of the FID’s ongoing Money Mule public-education campaign.
“Do not let anyone use your bank account or identity for criminal activity, ” he urged.
“If you do, you will face serious consequences.”
