National Weekly March 16, 2017

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 16 – MAR 22, 2017 | VOL. 14 NO. 11

N E T W O R K T H E

M O S T

W I D E L Y

C I R C U L A T E D

C A R I B B E A N

A M E R I C A N

N E W S P A P E R

I N

WATCH IT. READ IT. LOVE IT. WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED

F L O R I D A

Busted!

Miramar woman detained in lottery scam A woman has been arrested in Miami for alleged involvement in the Jamaican lottery scam. Investigators say the woman, identified as Vennesa Hawkins, faces several charges. According to a police report, an elderly couple in New York lost more than $40,000 after being told they had won $2.5 million and a brand new car. Investigators, who watched as Hawkins receive several packages at a home in a gated Miramar community, said she told them the items were for her brother in Jamaica. The packages – from the couple in New York - contained thousands of dollars in cash, checks and Apple electronics. According to Detective Mark Moretti, the victims were told that they needed to send those items to pay the taxes on their 'prizes'. “They'll (the scammers) contact you and say, 'Oh you won a prize but you have to pay for it upfront,'” Moretti explained. “No company does that. That right there is the red flag.” Moretti said some of the phone numbers used to contact the victims in New York were Jamaican. “They're (the scammers) very persistent,” Moretti said. “They're very quick. And they know how to manipulate and control people.” When questioned, the couple said they sent the items to Hawkins as she told them that they won a Publisher's Clearing House sweepstake. “We order magazines and things from them (Publisher's Clearing House) and we enter the things that they send.” Jamaican and US law enforcement have stepped up activities in recent months to apprehend players in the multi-million scam which has fleeced innocent victims, mostly seniors, in the US.

Hawkins

Vybz Kartel gets leave for appeal Incarcerated dancehall star, Vybz Kartel and his three co-accused in the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams were Wednesday granted leave to appeal their conviction and life sentences. See full story on C2

Colbourne

Barnes

Chambers

They’re back! Incumbent Miramar commissioners, Winston Barnes, Yvette Colbourne and Max Chambers were returned to their respective seats in the city's municipal elections on March 14. In Seat 3, Barnes overwhelmingly defeated his challenger Dalton Bonheur, receiving over 67 percent of the votes. In Seat 2, Colbourne turned back Dr. Venessa Walker, while in Seat 1 Maxwell Chambers beat Norman Hemming. continues on A6 – They’re back

ICE Body Camera Act Caribbean American Congresswoman introduces body camera bill Caribbean American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke has introduced the ICE Body Camera Act of 2017 in the United States House of Representatives that would require the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to wear body cameras during field operations and removal proceedings. The bill would mandate that ICE develop procedures for training agents and deploying body cameras – including the storage of digital information obtained through the cameras – and would require

Clarke

ICE agents to start wearing body cameras within 18 months. “As Donald Trump has dramatically expanded the number of undocumented Americans who are a priority for deportation, many immigrants in Brooklyn and across the United States now fear a knock on the door in the middle of the night or checkpoints on their drive home from work,” said Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York. “These immigrants, as well as advocates, are concerned about the possibility of abuse, particularly when individuals detained by continues on A6 – Body Camera Bill

WHAT’S INSIDE LOCAL

FEATURE

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

BROWARD COLLEGE BECOMES NATIONAL “COLLEGE OF DISTINCTION” A3

CELEBRATING MARCH: A MONTH DEDICATED TO HONORING WOMEN B1

JIMMY CLIFF SEEKS TO UPLIFT THE DOWNTRODDEN WITH “LIFE” C3

BOLT UNLIKELY TO GRACE WORLD RELAYS TRACK D1


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