Tashieka Mair, Star Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:

Alleged lotto scammer, 28-year-old Lucien Vassel, accused of fleecing several residents in the United States of over $4.5m (US$51,150) was granted bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday after spending almost three months in custody.

When the matter was mentioned before Resident Magistrate Vivienne Harris, the court was informed by the clerk that there was a statement from potential victims of the scam and a report from the Financial Investigations Division (FID) that is analysing the documents recovered from the accused man's home in Bogue Village, St James.

Vassel was charged with breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act after several documents and computer-related items bearing the hallmarks of the infamous lottery scam were found at his home. He was, on previous occasions, denied bail as he had failed to honour the conditions of bail in a matter of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm that was pending. No order was, however, made in the case on request of the complainant.

strict condition

He was offered bail in the sum of $750,000 and was told that he was not to be seen accessing or have access to any cell phones or computer-related gadgets as strict condition of bail. He was also ordered to report to the Freeport Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Allegations are that the police, acting on information received, went to Vassel's home on March 13 and spent 20 minutes banging on the door before there was a response. A search of the premises revealed a folder, two thumb drives and notebooks and other loose paper containing more than 25,000 names, addresses and telephone numbers of US citizens.

The police also found five cellular phones which had several US phone numbers dialled, seven SIM cards and several Western Union receipts of money collected, one of which was for a sum of over J$240,000. The items were found in several strategic points in the house including an air-conditioning vent, his shoes, vases and under his mattress.

The investigating officer also revealed to the court that preliminary investigations showed that between December 2007 and January 2008 Vassel collected US$8,500, and between March and July 2008 he collected US$42,650.