FOLEY — Multiple agencies worked an operation Friday in Baldwin County, which led to four arrests.
Operation Jamaican Knights was part of an investigation into a fraudulent lottery scam.
Peter Walcott, Malik Chambers, Romario Nembhard and Jermaine Smith, all Jamaican nationals, were booked into the Foley Jail and charged with mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
According to the FBI, the defendants scammed victims nationwide out of more than $200,000.
Court documents state that some of the victims were elderly, and they were made to believe they had won the lottery. The scammers directed them to pay taxes on their winnings by sending cash to addresses in Baldwin County. Over 100 shipments of cash were made.
If convicted, the four face up to 20 years in prison.
The defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.
The agencies involved were FBI Mobile, FBI Baltimore, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security, Department of Defense Officer of Inspector General, Customs and Border Patrol, Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, Mobile County Sheriff's Office, Foley Police Department, Gulf Shores Police Department and Silverhill Police Department.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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