KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Financial Investigations Division (FID) has issued a warning that it will take firm enforcement action against individuals who fail to comply with the terms and deadlines of pecuniary penalty orders (PPOs) issued by the courts under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

In a release, the agency said the warning follows enforcement action taken against Jason Kameka and Orville Barriffe, both of whom have been charged in relation to breaches of PPOs previously imposed by the courts.

The FID noted that the apprehension and charging of both men were the result of work carried out by the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Specialised Investigation Branch, formerly the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC), particularly its Constabulary Financial Unit.

The agency added that the branch also played a central role in the investigations and charges laid against both men for the predicate offences that led to the matters, namely fraud in Kameka’s case and narcotics offences in Barriffe’s case.

Kameka, who is currently in custody on a separate matter, will remain in custody and is scheduled to appear before the court on March 13, 2026 to answer to the breach. Barriffe was offered bail and is scheduled to appear before the court on April 7, 2026.

Kameka had previously been convicted in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court for conspiracy to defraud, aiding and abetting the commission of an offence under the Cybercrimes Act, and obtaining money by false pretence. He was subsequently made subject to a PPO in the sum of just over $18.1 million in 2020, but investigations later revealed that no payment had been made despite the court order.

Barriffe was convicted in the Saint Catherine Parish Court for possession of cocaine and dealing in cocaine. Following his committal to the Circuit Court for a benefit hearing under POCA, a consent order was made on September 21, 2022, requiring him to pay a pecuniary penalty of $6 million.

Under that order, Barriffe was required to make an initial payment of $600,000 within 30 days, followed by monthly payments of $235,000 for 22 months, with a final payment of $230,000 in the 24th month. However, the FID said that while partial payments were made, the majority of the amount remains outstanding and there is no evidence of an appeal or any application for additional time. A subsequent directive to pay the outstanding amounts was also reportedly ignored.

The agency pointed out that under section 12(6) of POCA, a person who fails to pay amounts required under a pecuniary penalty order within the specified time commits an offence and may face up to five years’ imprisonment upon conviction before a parish court judge. Additionally, section 13 of the Act imposes interest on outstanding PPOs until payment is made, with the current annual rate set at six per cent.

As of September 30, 2025, the FID said 17 individuals had been ordered by the courts to pay pecuniary penalty orders with various deadlines, representing a combined value of over $114 million. Of those matters, two are currently under appeal, three individuals are fully compliant with their monthly payment schedules, while 12 are delinquent and at least one month behind on their court-ordered obligations.

The FID explained that when a missed deadline is identified, the agency first writes to the individual reminding them of the breach and instructing that payment be made in accordance with the court-ordered schedule. If there is no response or compliance, the agency then proceeds to apprehend and charge the individual under POCA.

Principal Director of Financial Crimes Investigations, Keith Darien, said the agency will continue to act decisively where individuals ignore court orders.

“A pecuniary penalty order is a binding order of the court and must be treated as such. The FID will not tolerate situations in which persons benefit from unlawful conduct, are given a lawful opportunity to satisfy the order of the court, and then choose to disregard those obligations. Where breaches occur, we will pursue the matter fully and without hesitation,” he said.

He added that the agency remains committed to enforcing compliance.

Likewise, Senior Director of Legal Services, Courtney Smith, said compliance with pecuniary penalty orders is essential to depriving criminals of proceeds derived from unlawful activity.

“The Proceeds of Crime Act is intended to ensure that crime does not pay. Pecuniary penalty orders are central to that objective, as they require persons to repay the value of the benefit that the court says they derived from criminal conduct,” Smith said.

He noted that failure to comply is more than a procedural oversight and constitutes an offence under the Act, adding that interest will continue to accrue on outstanding sums even if a conviction results from non-payment.

The FID also reminded defendants and their attorneys that where genuine difficulties arise, the appropriate step is to seek relief through the courts, noting that ignoring deadlines, failing to respond to reminders and defaulting on court-ordered payment schedules will not be tolerated.