Four Jamaican men have been arrested in Baldwin, Alabama for their alleged involvement in a lottery scam that fleeced elderly Americans out of thousands of US dollars.
According to police reports, Peter Walcott, Malik Chambers, Romario Nembhard, and Jermaine Smith were arrested on Friday. The authorities indicated that six more Jamaican suspects have been identified.
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The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) says the suspects stole more than US$200,000 from dozens of victims across the country.
Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s office in Mobile, Alabama, Parker Still, said the crime syndicate, “Jamaican Knights” consisted primarily of Jamaican nationals, who were illegal immigrants.
According to the affidavit, a FedEx shipping center in Mobile intercepted cash deliveries from elderly victims in February 2023.
Victims were told they won the lotto and needed to pay taxes in the form of cash shipments to receive their prizes.
Still also said that the FBI has identified more than 75 victims, primarily elderly persons, throughout the United States and shipments were sent to addresses in Foley, Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach.
The affidavit states portions of the stolen cash were withdrawn at ATMs in and around the western parish of Westmoreland in Jamaica.
According to the affidavit, more than US$180,000 has been intercepted and recovered from various addresses linked to the suspects, most of which have been returned to the victims.
The affidavit stated that Chambers is in the US legally with a temporary B1/B2 visa that expires on August 27.
However, the visas held by Smith, Walcott, and Nembhard have expired.
Chambers, Smith, and Nembhard had their initial appearance in federal court Friday and were ordered kept in custody, pending a detention hearing. CMC
