Woman charged in $110-million loan fraud scheme to appear in court

A 58-year-old woman charged in connection with an alleged $110-million loan fraud scheme is scheduled to appear in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court today, while five other accused in the case have been granted bail.

Admarie Ashman, a self-employed woman from the Kingston 3 area, was arrested and charged on Tuesday following a search of her home.

Ashman is one of six people charged in connection with an alleged scheme in which loans totalling approximately $110 million were obtained from a prominent financial institution using forged and fictitious documents between January 2023 and December 2024.

The other accused are Errol Williams, 39, a business owner and accountant from St Catherine; Christine Elliot, 52, a customer service representative from St Catherine; Staisha Campbell, 24, who is unemployed and also from St Catherine; Paige Dixon, 34, a labourer and farmer from Kingston; and Adrien Kerry-Ann Gordon, 44, a self-employed shopkeeper from Kingston.

According to the Financial Investigation Division (FID), the five appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on October 13 and were granted bail with conditions.

These include surrendering their travel documents, reporting to the police twice weekly, complying with a stop order restricting their movement, and refraining from contacting or interfering with witnesses.

They are scheduled to return to court on February 16, 2027, for mention.

The FID said an investigation was launched after the financial institution reported the matter to the police on December 24, 2024, following the discovery of irregularities in loan applications submitted by 79 individuals.

The institution reportedly became suspicious when it was unable to verify applicants' stated places of employment at the addresses provided. By then, the loans had been disbursed but were not being repaid.

Investigators allege that forged job letters, utility bills and pay advices were used to support the applications, while the loan proceeds were subsequently transferred through bank accounts belonging to third parties.

Williams is alleged to have benefited by approximately $20 million from the scheme. The FID further alleges that he created fictitious documents, provided bank accounts to other individuals and instructed that loan proceeds be transferred to those accounts.

He is also accused of obtaining a fraudulent driver's licence and birth certificate and opening bank accounts in fictitious names to facilitate the deposit of loan funds.

Elliot and Campbell are alleged to have received $1.35 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in loan proceeds. Dixon and Gordon are each alleged to have received $1.5 million, which was withdrawn.

The FID said Ashman was arrested during a search operation conducted by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Constabulary Financial Unit, assisted by personnel from the Kingston Eastern Police Division.

During the search, investigators reportedly found two forms of government-issued photo identification – a driver's licence and an electoral identification card – bearing different dates of birth. One was in Ashman's name, while the other was in the name Cassandra Burton.

Bank cards, letters and other printed documents were also seized and entered into evidence, the FID said.

All six accused face charges of engaging in a transaction involving criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act, uttering forged documents under the Forgery Act, obtaining credit by fraud under the Larceny Act, and conspiracy to defraud under common law.

Williams faces an additional charge of possession of criminal property.

FID Chief Technical Director Dennis Chung said the investigation highlighted the importance of collaboration between the FID and the Jamaica Constabulary Force in tackling alleged financial crimes.

He also warned the public against allowing others to use their bank accounts or identification to receive or transfer money.

“A request to receive money, or to lend an account or identification, can seem harmless, but it can make a person a pawn in someone else’s criminal activity,” Chung said.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and refuse such requests, while encouraging financial institutions to strengthen their due diligence procedures when assessing loan applications and vetting employees.

“Due diligence is not a one-time exercise. It must be sustained, as it protects institutions, their customers and the wider financial system,” Chung said.

The FID stressed that the charges are allegations and that all six accused are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

- Tanesha Mundle

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