Eight Jamaicans, including a former police officer were last week extradited to the United States to face charges related to their alleged involvement in a lottery scam.
Jason Jahalal, a former police officer, Alrick McLedo, Oneil Brown, Xanu Ann Morgan, Dario Palmer, Kazrae Gray, Kimberly Hudson and Dahlia Hunter were charged with various fraud offences including money laundering.
Mastermind of the scheme, Lavrick Willocks operated it out of a house where he lived with his mother, Dahlia Hunter. The accused will each face 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 North Dakota, United States.
It is alleged that conmen schemed more than 70 people, mostly Americans, out of about US$6 million.
Willocks had evaded arrest for some time, but was taken into custody in January after being found hiding in a garden in a hotel in Kingston.
He was extradited and at his court appearance, pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and a number of other charges.
