The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), in collaboration with the Specialised Operations Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), last week arrested two suspected scammers following targeted operations in Cedar Grove Estate, Portmore, and Stony Hill, St Andrew.
The first suspect, 29 year old Rajae Stewart, was apprehended on June 12 after MOCA agents, alongside police officers from the JCF’s Specialised Operations Unit, went to a location in Cedar Grove Estate to execute an operation. During a search of Stewart’s premises, several items associated with lottery scamming, including multiple technological devices used in defrauding individuals overseas, were seized. Stewart was later charged with breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act. Two days later, on June 14, a joint operation led by the Jamaica Organisations Linked to Telemarketing Task Force (JOLT) and comprised of law enforcement personnel from MOCA, the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (CTOC), and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), resulted in the arrest of 29-year-old dancehall artist Tevin Parker, popularly known as Big$en, in Stony Hill, St Andrew. Parker was found with two associates at a residence where a detailed search revealed lead lists, bank cards, and other lottery scamming paraphernalia. He has since been formally charged with Possession of Identity Information and Possession of Access Devices. His associates have been released pending further investigations. Parker’s court date is yet to be determined.
Major Basil Jarrett, Director of Communications at MOCA, emphasized the importance of collaboration in combating organized crime, saying “MOCA and its partners have a very strong collaborative relationship, bolstered in some instances by several MOUs. These two sets of arrests demonstrate that this approach to crime fighting continues to bear significant fruit.”
MOCA continues to urge the public to assist in the fight against lottery scamming and other major organised crimes by calling the MOCA Tip-Line at 888-MOCA-TIP (662-2847) or via www.moca.gov.jm. The agency is also reminding the public that the Tip Line is managed by Crime Stop and all calls are 100% anonymous and confidential.