Three individuals from Jamaica, Jason Plummer (aged 31), Troy Williams (aged 38), and Tajay Singh (aged 26), have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The US Department of Justice has been actively combating fraud and financial exploitation, particularly targeting older adults.
The indictment was announced by US Attorney Eric G. Olshan on December 15, 2023. Local law enforcement officers in Montego Bay, St. James, successfully apprehended Plummer, Williams, and Singh in separate operations.
In addition to the Jamaican suspects, four other defendants were named in the indictment: Tashane Murray (30) from Miramar, Florida; Clevon McKenzie (31) from Mount Vernon, New York; Gyzzell Byfield (27) from Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Daniel Reid (27) from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. US law enforcement officers arrested Murray, McKenzie, Byfield, and Reid on November 16, 2023.
The indictments detail the defendants’ involvement in a fraudulent scheme that targeted and defrauded elderly and vulnerable individuals in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the US. The scheme involved contacting victims and falsely claiming they had won substantial cash prizes, ranging from one to several million dollars. However, the victims were coerced into paying alleged taxes and fees upfront before receiving their non-existent winnings.
These indictments underscore the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to protect individuals from financial exploitation and fraud.
“These defendants allegedly enriched themselves at the expense of elderly victims who believed they had won the lottery,” said Olshan. “Protecting our most vulnerable populations from the proliferation of targeted fraud schemes like the one alleged in this case remains a significant priority of our office. We will continue to work with all of our domestic and foreign law enforcement partners in our shared pursuit of justice on behalf of crime victims.”
US Attorney Eric G. Olshan
“Those charged targeted and took advantage of some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “This was a wide-reaching conspiracy that cost victims millions of dollars. “Unfortunately, it’s a crime that is increasing every year, and Pennsylvania remains one of the top states in the country that is impacted.”
FBI Special Agent Mike Nordwall
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The security forces seized three illegal firearms along Sunrise Crescent in St Andrew
Senior Superintendent of Police Stephanie Lindsay has confirmed that law enforcement officers seized three firearms during an operation along Sunrise Crescent in St Andrew on Monday afternoon, December 18, 2023.
Consequently, multiple individuals, including previously identified persons of interest, were arrested during the coordinated efforts of the police and military.
The operation was initiated shortly after 5:00 a.m. as a direct response to the recent surge in robberies and shootings in the Sunrise Crescent, 100 Lane, and Chancery Street communities.
According to law enforcement authorities, the detained suspects were individuals linked to previous criminal activities and those believed to be involved in other offenses.
During the operation, one high-powered rifle and two semi-automatic pistols, along with various rounds of ammunition, were confiscated.
Superintendent Lindsay informed that at least one of the apprehended individuals will face formal charges, as one of the firearms was found in their possession.
“I believe that today’s operation is a good indication of the efforts being carried out by the police. It is a big community, even though it is one address. And I believe that the persons in the surrounding area will be able to breathe a sigh of relief,” the senior cop said.
Stephanie Lindsay, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jamaica.
District constable gets six months for misuse of JCF gas card
A district constable has been sentenced by a Kingston and St Andrew Parish judge to six months imprisonment or a fine of $100,000.
The constable was found guilty of utilizing a Jamaica Constabulary Force petrol advance card for personal fuel expenses.
Akeno Barnes received this sentence on December 14, 2023, following his conviction on March 14, 2023, for the charge of larceny as a servant in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court. The arrest and charge were made by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) back in 2012.
The trial commenced in 2016 and relied heavily on the investigation carried out by MOCA agents and the testimonies of six witnesses. Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks, presiding over the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court, expressed his appreciation for the professionalism, meticulousness, and commitment displayed by the MOCA team throughout the investigation while delivering the sentence.