PR scammer get 4½ years jail time
Cayman Islands courts
(CNS): A George Town woman began serving a four and a half year jail term in HMP Fairbanks on Tuesday after Justice Charles Quin delivered his sentencing judgment on her involvement in a permanent residency scam. Marcia Hamilton (46) was convicted in December of six counts of obtaining property by deception for her part in an organised con over the sale of residency rights involving at least two other women. Her co-accused, Judith Francia Douglas (51), who pleaded guilty last September to nine counts for the same scam, received just 2½ years.
“This deception is the most cynical exploitation of vulnerable and unsuspecting victims,” the judge said as he handed down his ruling.
A third woman, Kathleen Rosetta Davis, who was also allegedly involved in the criminal enterprise, fled to Jamaica when the investigation began and has never been tried. The women conned work permit holders into believing they were collecting fees and PR applications on behalf of the UDP government, which they said needed to sell the right to residency to people to raise funds to plug the public sector deficit. Between them, they defrauded tens of thousands of dollars from vulnerable people on low incomes, such as domestic helpers and carers, who were desperate to remain in the Cayman Islands and continue to work here.
As he handed down the sentences, Justice Quin said the compelling evidence against Hamilton, who had denied being part of the crime, claiming that she believed it was a genuine scheme, was deeply involved in the scam for a long period and was, as the crown claimed, the “cash lady” and knew full well that all the people who gave her $2,500 were never going to get PR.
Given the circumstances of the crime, the aggravating factors and her continued denials, Hamilton was given the longer sentence. Her co-accused, Douglas, who had admitted her stupidity for getting involved in the con and who showed significant remorse and regret, was given a lower sentence and a 25% discount for her admissions. Time served by the women on remand was ordered to be taken into account.
I just wonder why the ‘mastermind’ of this scam, Judith Douglas got so little time? Yes she pled guilty but she was the initial instigator of this scam and the other women just fell for her lies and deceit; they probably never dreamed it was a scam until things started falling apart!
The Canadian woman took money from a man whom she lived with and looked after, he had millions, $2 mil was a drop in the bucket for him but what about the Jamaicans who were scammed in this case? Many of them would have to work for 2 or 3 months to make $2,500. So my question is who committed the bigger crime? Douglas should have got more time and also been made to say who was the ‘inside’ person or perons at the Dept of Immigration, it was obviously more persons involved in this that have not been investigated.
When will the CI Government get their 4/ 1/2 years for scamming the PR applicants? They take money and do not deliver anything.
I would hope a deportation after time served is part of judgement
Come on, of course it’s a scam, nobody gets PR here!!
What a load of rubbish. 100’s of persons have obtained PR & citizenship.
True, but not 1 person in last 3 years.
Yes, but not since 2013.
you must be kidding! it seems its given out like candy.
Meanwhile, those who gamble away our money and buy extravagant watches walk the streets free.
Some times they even have drivers
jamaican scam artists????? …never!
Yeh, real scammers
where are all the comments and talk show hosts calling for more time?
This is selling citizenship the lack of respect for our laws and people at its worst!
But oh the ‘white Canadian’ got 12 years? Why? Because she isn’t Jamaican and the victim was a rich expat not the Caymanian people?
Sentencing here boy
Deportation order?
At least let her serve her sentence first in a Cayman jail as it was a crime against Caymanians. This sort of crime is appalling and deserves a long sentence.
How is scamming people applying for PR a crime against Caymanians? Surely a crime against people who wanted to become Caymanian?
Exactly! Why not? Can the Premier please explain why our laws are not being applied?
Now time to convict church scammers as well. All of them.
Start in education, you will find a whole bunch of idiots in position of power in education who are led by the grace of god and christian intimidation with their online PhDs and not because they have any intellectual rigor.
You sound bitter, like you applied for a job and didn’t get. Or you asked for a favour and didn’t get it. Your post has nothing at all to do with the story.
You are so right. This idiot is upset because he didn’t get a job and a Caymanian got it instead. A qualified Caymanian I might add. They come here with their agendas and they will do anything to carry it out.
So that is how they get their Phd’s…I was wondering how come so many self important non medical “doctors” we have promoting themselves as experts on radio and television.