Eight arrested in joint US police/MOCA lottery scam operation charged

Eight of the nine persons who were taken into custody by detectives from the Major Organised Crime and Anticorruption Task Force (MOCA) during simultaneous raids in Hanover, St James, Trelawny and St Ann last week, have now been charged.

According to Inspector Dahlia Garrick of MOCA, the other person has been processed and released.

Those arrested are: Tawayne Jason Foster otherwise called 'Street Man', a 21-year-old taxi operator of Chelsea, Irwin; Simone Motta 27-year-old, shopkeeper of Sun Flower Crescent, Paradise, Norwood; and Troy Keron Jones otherwise called 'Shaun' 28-years-old labourer, of Grange Pen District, Lilliput, all in St James.

Shawnavon Antonio Wray otherwise called 'Shawn Wray', 23-years-old of Duncans, Trelawny and Runaway Bay, St Ann; Carl Gooden otherwise called 'Stamma', 53-years-old, businessman, Carrick De-Alxis Gooden; 25-years-old businessman, Calvin Donaldson, otherwise called 'Mesh', 22-years old, chef; Oshane Tyrell otherwise called 'Mice' and 18-years-old, all of Carey Park District, Duncan.

Charges

Seven of the eight persons have been charged with breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provision) Act, while Carrick Gooden, Foster and Motta have been charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act, while Foster and Motta additionally charged for breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The operation was a joint effort between MOCA and US law enforcement agencies. This is the second segment of an exercise which started in May of this year in Florida, USA. The first phase took place over a two-week period, between May 08-16, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a collaborative effort between the US and Jamaica.

Personnel from MOCA visited Fort Lauderdale where they participated in this special initiative with several US agencies, led by the United States Postal Inspection Services (USPIS), assisted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Social Security Administra-tion, Office of the Inspector General, United States Marshals, Broward County Sheriff's Office and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

During the period, more than US300,000 was seized in packages which were sent from more than 20 unsuspecting United States citizens, destined for persons in Jamaica.

Consequently, this follow-up operation was planned and executed in an effort to curtail the benefits obtained from scamming unsuspecting US citizens. The local phase was led by MOCA, assisted by the finance investigations division, Area 1 Operational Support Team, Anti-Corruption Branch, Jamaica Defence Force and US law enforcers from USPIS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and DHS.

Lottery scam paraphernalia seized

An overseas based, senior manager from Western Union Remittance Agency also participated in the exercise. During the operation all persons except Jones and Carrick Gooden were found in possession of lottery scam paraphernalia. Several electronic devices which are believed to contain paraphernalia of the scamming were seized and have since been submitted for cyber-forensics analysis.

Also, three Toyota Corolla motor cars were seized. Carrick Gooden, Foster and Motta were found with quantities of marijuana and were charged accordingly.

Additional charges are expected to be proffered against these individuals in relation to the US leg of the joint operation.

They were all granted bail; Carrick Gooden will appear in the Duncans Resident Magistrate's Court on October 11. The others will appear in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's on the following dates; Gooden, Wray, Donaldson and Tyrell October 22; Foster, Motta and Jones on October 31.

The operation was a joint effort between MOCA and US law enforcement agencies. This is the second segment of an exercise which started in May of this year in Florida, USA.