Jamaica

Extradited!
8 accused lottery scammers being flown out to US today
Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Eight Jamaicans accused of lottery scamming are being extradited to the United States today. A former policeman is among the eight who were ordered extradited by Parish Judge Vaughn Smith in March following a hearing in which they sought to challenge the request made by the US Government.
The accused — ex-policeman Jason Jahalal, Alrick McLeod, Dahlia Hunter, O’Neil Brown, Xanu Ann Morgan, Dario Palmer, Karae Gray, and Kimberly Hudson — have each been indicted on one count of conspiracy and attempting to commit wire fraud, 48 counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering in the state of North Dakota in the United States.
They are alleged to be part of a criminal organization, headed by Lavrick Willocks, which manifested in 2009 in Jamaica and elsewhere.
Authorities alleged that the sophisticated schemes that Willocks masterminded bilked more than 70 mostly elderly Americans out of more than US$5.6 million. He was initially charged in October 2012, but evaded the police until he was arrested in a hotel in Kingston in November last year. Authorities said they found more than US$10,000 in cash in his room, along with electronics and jewelry.
Willocks, who was extradited to the US in January, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering in US District Court in North Dakota
Remittance blow? – Diaspora rep says don’t expect strong opposition to proposed US law to tax remittances

Published:Wednesday | April 26, 2017 | 4:00 AMJovan Johnson

Don’t expect “strong” opposition from the Jamaican diaspora in the United States to legislation proposed to tax remittances sent to countries like Jamaica, Irwine Clare, a key New York member, said.
The tax would be used to fund the wall President Donald Trump campaigned on and insists will be built at the US border with Mexico to curb illegal immigration.
Republican congressman from Alabama, Mike Rogers, introduced the ‘Border Wall Funding Bill’ on March 30. It is to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act by requiring a charge of two per cent on the US-dollar value of any money being sent to Jamaica and 43 other countries covering Latin America and the Caribbean.
Many of those countries, including Jamaica, have poor populations that depend heavily on remittances. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith is “on top of this”, state minister in the finance ministry, Fayval Williams, said, adding that she will allow the minister to speak on Jamaica’s response.

Woman among 31 wanted in St James

ST JAMES — The police have listed 31 people as wanted for serious crimes in St James and surrounding parishes. These individuals are being asked to turn themselves in to the Montego Bay Criminal Investigation Branch immediately.They are:

1. Adrian Robinson, 37, otherwise called ‘Rasta’, who frequents Crawford Street in St. James. He is wanted in connection with murder and shooting.

2. Shaneil Lutan, 28, of Farm Heights in St. James who is wanted for escaping Police custody.

3. Stephano Johnson otherwise called ‘Saj’. He is of dark complexion but is believed to have bleached his skin. He is wanted in connection with murder.

St Lucia PM cuts funding for National Trust

CASTRIES, St Lucia — In what is widely regarded locally as punishment for its opposition to a proposed dolphin park and its outspoken criticism of environmentally damaging components of a controversial multibillion-dollar development in Saint Lucia, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet…