A Jamaican man accused of involvement in lottery scamming, who was listed among the top ten most wanted in the United States is to be extradited. 35-year-old Gregory Gooden of Black River, St Elizabeth was ordered extradited, when he waived his rights during a hearing in the Kingston and St. Andrew parish court on Tuesday, June 6.
Gooden was arrested by the Kingston Western Proactive Unit, which carried out a raid at a house on Wellington Street, Kingston 14 on Monday, June 5.
During processing, his true identity was revealed and it was discovered, that he was wanted in the United States for wire fraud and money laundering. U-S authorities say Gooden is part of the lottery scam operated by alleged mastermind Lavrick Willocks. Gooden is among 15 people charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. Court records indicate that Gooden received 14 thousand US dollars through the scam.
8 Jamaican nationals and a US citizen who have pleaded not guilty are scheduled for trial between July 17 and 19, in a federal court in North Dakota. The Jamaican defendants are ex-police constable Jason Jahalal, Alrick Mcleod, O’neil Brown, Xanu Morgan, Dario Palmer, Kazrae Grey, Kimberly Hudson and Dahlia Hunter. Three other suspects remain fugitives and are believed to be in Jamaica. Another suspect arrested in Jamaica remains in custody awaiting extradition, a process he is reportedly fighting.
US authorities allege that the scam bilked at least 90 elderly Americans out of more than 5.7 million US dollars. The case is being tried in North Dakota because the investigation began in the state more than five years ago. The suspects are accused of calling victims, persuading them to send money, and wiring the money to bank accounts in Jamaica. Authorities have dubbed the case “operation hard copy,” a reference to lists of prospective victims’ contact information used by scammers.
Among those awaiting trial this summer are Lavrick Willocks, who authorities allege was the mastermind of the scam and Sanjay Williams, who authorities say was a cohort of Willock’s in Jamaica and ran a separate scam, was convicted by a US jury in 2015 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.