Young scammers worry judge

Parish Judge Maxine Ellis has expressed concern about the future of young men in the country, who she believes are being recruited to commit lottery scamming.

"The police, you need to do some sort of survey. Look at the demographics and see who are the persons being charged with these sort of crimes. What is their background, the demographics? It is going to tell a story and it will inform the process of how we deal with the young men in the country," Ellis charged.

Her suggestion follows a troubling declaration by 22-year-old Jaheim Henry who appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday, facing one count of possession of identity information. Investigators contend that Henry's phone was searched and Excel sheets containing the names, phone numbers and addresses of persons living overseas were found.

Henry shared with the judge that he is a high school dropout, who earns $6,000 weekly selling eggs with his cousin. Following his confession, the judge surmised that Henry made a good candidate to be recruited for lottery scamming, as he had no educational qualifications to apply for jobs.

"That's the profile of a recruit. They did not go to school and get any kind of job description and no young man nah earn $6,000 and happy. You see how him dress? Him don't look like him scrappy. The young men of this country are getting fast money," Ellis argued.

"People are getting it as a job, they are training them like they are agents. There is a recruiter out there and they are using the young cohort. Memba me did tell yuh that, remember I said it today. It is not by accident that the ones who are coming to court with these lead sheets, the identity information, are all young, young men. They are giving them what they could not ordinarily earn because them come out of school with no subjects and they don't have the qualifications to do any jobs. Somebody come to him and say 'My yute yuh know me can make yuh make money'?" she reasoned.

The judge was further peeved when she heard that Henry, who was dressed in a dark blue shirt and black pants, as well as a pair of black Clarks, was offered station bail in the sum of $80,000 with a surety.

"That is too likkle bit of money, but I will make it stay if you [his mother] agree to let him live with you. I am taking him off the streets because clearly he is one of them who is up for recruiting," she said. Ellis reviewed Henry's bail, adding conditions that he resides with his mother in Stony Hill and abide to a strict curfew order from 6 p.m to 6 a.m. daily. He was also ordered to report to the police once weekly.

"I am getting a little bit concerned about the number of persons coming to court for possession of identity information. This is what is happening with the young people now. Rather than getting the CXC, City and Guilds, certificates, degrees and diplomas, they are getting charged with possession of identity information. I am getting very concerned about this," Ellis said.

The matter was adjourned until September 25, when it is to be heard in the Home Circuit Court.