A joint investigation by the Financial Investigations Division (FID) and the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) has led to the successful conviction of 44-year-old customs broker, Mr. Nathiel Graham, who was sentenced in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court on Friday, July 11, 2025, for his role in a multi-million-dollar credit card fraud operation targeting the Government’s customs revenue system.
Graham has remained in custody since his trouble with the law started on November 28, 2022, when he was arrested and charged for offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). While in custody, on July 4, 2023, he was charged for unrelated but similar offences.
On September 19, 2024, Graham pleaded guilty to several financial crimes, including:
- Engaging in a Transaction Involving Criminal Property (6 counts – 2 years each)
- Fraudulent Conversion (8 counts – 3 years each)
- Obtaining Money by Means of False Pretence (4 counts – 2 years each)
The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Graham is expected to be released in November 2025.
The charges stemmed from a report made by the JCA to the FID concerning suspicious activities on its E-payment platform, used for the payment of customs duties on imported motor vehicles and goods. Graham was found to have fraudulently used credit card information from five individuals to make payments totalling J$12,054,933.35. These unauthorized transactions triggered chargebacks from financial institutions, resulting in significant financial losses to the State and undermining the integrity of an important source of national revenue — the importation of goods.
In commenting on the outcome, Mr. Courtney Smith, the FID’s Senior Director of Legal Services noted: “This case illustrates how fraudsters attempt to exploit government systems to their own advantage, robbing the country of vital revenue streams in the process. But it also demonstrates what can be achieved through strong institutional collaboration.
The joint investigation between the FID and the JCA’s internal investigative unit was instrumental in identifying and dismantling the scheme. Our partnership was critical in ensuring that justice was served. To those who believe digital footprints are invisible — think again. We will find you.”
The FID urges all entities that offer digital services to routinely review their systems for vulnerabilities and report irregularities swiftly. As Jamaica continues to modernize its public services, strong safeguards and responsive enforcement remain key to protecting institutions and the public purse.