Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer

Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

Mere hours after two Montego Bay men were arrested in connection with the multimillion-dollar lottery scam, bringing to seven those charged, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mark Shields said the group of scammers could face extradition.

"If the United States law enforcement requested extradition proceedings then of course it will be considered," DCP Shields said. "If federal offences have been committed in the U.S. (extradition) is a possibility."

The guest speaker at the Montego Bay Rotary Club East meeting in St. James on Thursday, DCP Shields said tha there is much more to be done in the investigation, the scammers stand to spend a lengthy period of time behind bars, with or without extradition, based on the amount of evidence that has been gathered in the case so far.

"One person has been charged with over 20 offences already. It is a complex enquiry because we have recovered so much property. We have recovered computers, lists of addresses and numbers. In fact, since the arrests have been made, the public has been very good and more (persons) have come forward," he said.

"It is growing into quite a huge investigation and it is going to take us time to unravel everything," the DCP added.

Latest charged

The latest to be charged are Kenley Stevens, former chairman of the West Central St. James People's National Party Youth Organisation in region six and Montego Bay businessman Stephen Allen. They are both charged with conspiracy to defraud.

Also charged are: 29-year-old Jomo Bernard also called 'Brilliant', 31-year-old Cleopatra Bent, 22-year-old Shannon Ricketts, and Lenroy Campbell, also called 'Sufferer', all of Bogue Hill Village , Montego Bay. Charged with unlawful possession is 21-year-old Sherika Headley.

- claudine.housen@gleanerjm.com