Six accused fraudsters for court on July 7

Six accused fraudsters who were arrested and charged in 2014 in connection with the illicit lottery scam, are booked to return before the St James Parish Court on July 7.

The defendants are Rose Atkinson, Desmond Gray, Desrond Gray, Merdella Gray, Dominique Crighton, and Craig McPherson, all of St James addresses. They had their bails extended when they appeared before presiding Parish Judge Kaysha Grant Pryce last Friday. The court was told that the case, which had been on the trial list, could not proceed as the judge overseeing the case was not available that day.

"The judge in this matter is now sitting in the High Court and has other pressing matters to deal with. She is asking for this matter to be adjourned until July 7," Grant Pryce explained to the defendants before extending their bails.

The allegations are that the defendants worked together to defraud several persons in the US out of thousands of dollars, after the victims were told that they were winners of a lottery sweepstake. Police investigations led to the arrest of the six in 2014, following which they were charged with breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transaction) (Special Provisions) Act.

C.T.