Investigations by the Lotto Task Force and the Constabulary Financial Unit have resulted in a man being charged with money laundering.

Gary Nembhard, a higgler of Havendale, St Andrew, was charged on Monday after an almost year-long investigation which started in June last year, after the 75-year-old complainant was called in the United States, and told she had won US$3.5 million (J$308 million) in the lottery. The woman was told that she should send US$28,000 (J$2.46 million)for taxation and other charges.

It was revealed that the woman was told to send the funds to Trinidad.

Nembhard was sent to pick up the money and upon his return to Jamaica he was checked by customs. He was held with US$9,500 (J$836,000) under his crotch and US$17,000 (J$1.496 million) in an envelope.

The money was confiscated and the police called in to probe the matter.

This resulted in Nembhard being charged by Detective Sergeant Luhas Daniels with three counts of money laundering.

The police told The Star that persons involved in the lotto scam are now asking victims to send the money to other countries.

- R.T.