Trelawny tailor forfeits over $800,000 in identity fraud case

TRELAWNY, Jamaica— A Trelawny tailor has been ordered by the court to forfeit J$825,000 plus interest following the conclusion of a 2022 identity fraud case on Monday.

Senior Parish Judge Vaughn Facey ordered that 34-year-old Jermaine Simpson of Duncans/Kettering district in the parish forfeits the sum, which was found in a brown paper bag hidden in a drawer when the Trelawny police executed a search warrant at his home on September 27, 2022.

The Financial Investigations Division (FID) Director of Legal Services, Courtney Smith in commenting on the outcome of the case, highlighting the agency’s mandate of deterring financial fraud in Jamaica.

“Protecting the country’s financial system from abuse by criminals and ensuring that financial fraud does not go unchecked remains a top priority for the FID. The result in court underscores our ongoing commitment to combating financial crimes, particularly those involving identity fraud and related fraudulent activities that target vulnerable victims both locally and overseas,” Smith said.

“The FID remains committed to collaborating with law enforcement partners and utilising the Proceeds of Crime Act and all available legal mechanisms. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving personal information,” he added.

Simpson was arrested and charged in 2022 with knowingly possessing identity information with intent to use it, contrary to section 10 (1) of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act 2013 after the police executed a search warrant at his home and the money along with phones containing a significant amount of personal identity information were found.

The police said that when they, along with members of the Jamaica Defence Force, went to Simpson’s property they observed that an object was thrown from the window. The object was retrieved and identified as an Apple iPhone SE with personal identity information, including hundreds of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals residing overseas.

Further examination of the premises revealed additional evidence of fraudulent activity, the police said.

During a thorough search, J$825,000 in cash was discovered hidden inside a brown paper bag in a dresser drawer. Another cellular phone, an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, was also found in Simpson’s bedroom.

Both phones were subjected to preliminary investigations, which revealed extensive records of communications with potential victims and detailed scripts used in what appeared to be fraudulent schemes, police reported.

An application called “TextNow” was seen on both phones, displaying a list of overseas numbers used in ongoing scams.

Simpson was cautioned by the police and detained, while investigations continued.

Following the discoveries, Simpson was charged, and later offered bail, with his first court appearance set for November 2, 2022. The case concluded on Monday, October 14.