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Jamaicans charged for US mortgage racket denied bail
Thursday, 27 March 2008
A former Jamaican policeman and his wife who were wanted by the United States government in a multi-million dollar mortgage racket were refused bail on Thursday.
Defence attorney Andrew Campbell on Thursday applied for bail on behalf of 45-year-old Delroy Patterson and his wife Yvette Scott Patterson, a mortgage broker.
Mr. Campbell told the magistrate in the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court that the Pattersons have been living and operating a business in Jamaica for sometime.
He further disclosed that Mrs. Patterson, a member of the People's National Party, contested the local government election for the Sydenham Division in St. Catherine in December.
But government prosecutors strongly opposed the bail application arguing that the Pattersons were a flight risk.
They argued that they fleeced millions of dollars from residents in the United States and later fled to Jamaica.
Mr. Patterson, who agreed to return to the US last week, on Thursday changed his stance and said he will be fighting his extradition.
He told the court that when he waived his right last week, he did not have an attorney to guide him in his decision.
The extradition hearing against the two is scheduled for June 5.
The Pattersons, who are accused of conspiring to defraud millions of US dollars from residents in Fort Lauderdale in a mortgage racket, were arrested three weeks ago by members of the Fugitive Apprehension Team.
US federal authorities alleged that the Pattersons fled Fort Lauderdale to escape charges in the $10 million mortgage scam.
Mrs. Scott Patterson is alleged to have submitted fraudulent mortgage applications and false documentation to lenders around the United States by using straw buyers and the fake ID's of innocent victims.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
A former Jamaican policeman and his wife who were wanted by the United States government in a multi-million dollar mortgage racket were refused bail on Thursday.
Defence attorney Andrew Campbell on Thursday applied for bail on behalf of 45-year-old Delroy Patterson and his wife Yvette Scott Patterson, a mortgage broker.
Mr. Campbell told the magistrate in the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court that the Pattersons have been living and operating a business in Jamaica for sometime.
He further disclosed that Mrs. Patterson, a member of the People's National Party, contested the local government election for the Sydenham Division in St. Catherine in December.
But government prosecutors strongly opposed the bail application arguing that the Pattersons were a flight risk.
They argued that they fleeced millions of dollars from residents in the United States and later fled to Jamaica.
Mr. Patterson, who agreed to return to the US last week, on Thursday changed his stance and said he will be fighting his extradition.
He told the court that when he waived his right last week, he did not have an attorney to guide him in his decision.
The extradition hearing against the two is scheduled for June 5.
The Pattersons, who are accused of conspiring to defraud millions of US dollars from residents in Fort Lauderdale in a mortgage racket, were arrested three weeks ago by members of the Fugitive Apprehension Team.
US federal authorities alleged that the Pattersons fled Fort Lauderdale to escape charges in the $10 million mortgage scam.
Mrs. Scott Patterson is alleged to have submitted fraudulent mortgage applications and false documentation to lenders around the United States by using straw buyers and the fake ID's of innocent victims.