MOCA OFF TO SUCCESSFUL 2022

The Major Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) has started the year with a number of arrests of persons in connection with various crimes including larceny, money laundering and forgery. Among the arrests are 35 year-old Alvira Campbell who has been charged with Larceny as a Servant and Money Laundering, and Accountant Goldston Cranston, who was charged with Forgery and Uttering Forged Documents.

Three other individuals were arrested in Hanover, during a joint operation conducted between January 27th and 28th by MOCA, the Lottery Scam Task Force (LSTF), the Trelawny Division (JCF), JCF Area One Operation Support Team and the Jamaica Defence Force. All four persons were alleged to be involved in crimes ranging from Lottery Scamming, Financial Crimes and Breaches of the Firearms Act.

During that operation, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Davian Vaughns of Lookout District, Hanover, which uncovered electronic devices and other documents of investigative interest. A simultaneous operation took place at the residence of Mr. Ashain Stewart and his common-law wife, Miss Shameka Ottey, where several electronic devices were seized. Davian Vaughns, Stewart and Ottey were all charged with Possession of Identity Information contrary to section 10 (1) of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions)(Special Provisions) Act. They were each granted bail in the sum of $400,000 with their next court appearance scheduled for March 2022.

The collaborative effort of the various security entities involved in these arrests is a demonstration of the value of collaboration in fighting crime. Just recently MOCA and the Financial Investigation Division (FID) signed an important MOU which will see greater sharing of resources and information in an effort to strengthen the fight against crime and violence.