Job scam victims repaid in court but case not closed

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Decarlos Christie, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud, has repaid a total of $200,000 to two women who fell prey to a job scam. With the payment, part of his case has been resolved but he has been remanded as he still owes one of the women $57,000. There is also a third alleged victim. Decarlos, who is jointly charged with his brother Bryan Christie, appeared before Judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday. Two of three complainants attended the hearing. One was repaid the full $52,000 she had paid while another received $148,000 of the $205,000 of which she was allegedly defrauded. Judge Grant-Pryce has directed that efforts be made to contact the third complainant Following Wednesday’s guilty plea Decarlos was admonished and discharged in relation to the matter involving the complainant who received full restitution. He is expected to pay the outstanding balance owed to the second complainant by July 29, when the matter will next be before the court. While he was remanded in custody, his brother’s bail was extended. During the hearing Decarlos maintained that his brother, Bryan, used his personal information without his knowledge or consent to carry out the transactions while he was in custody in St Ann on unrelated matters. Decarlos insisted that he had no involvement in the alleged scheme. According to the allegations, in January the first complainant was introduced by telephone to a man identifying himself only as “Mr Campbell”, who claimed to be offering overseas job placement opportunities. She was allegedly instructed to deposit $52,000 into a bank account registered to Decarlos Christie. Police say a second complainant later deposited $205,000 into the same account for the same purpose, while a third complainant transferred $10,000. Investigators allege the complainants were subsequently assured they would travel to Kingston as part of the overseas employment programme. However, the promised arrangements did not materialise, prompting reports to the police. During the investigation, police reportedly found that Decarlos’s bank card and account information were in Bryan’s possession, leading to the former being charged. Police further allege that Bryan was the individual who communicated with the complainants while posing as “Mr Campbell” and offering the overseas job opportunities.