Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer

The police say they have arrested a major player who is believed to be behind a computer hacking ring that was extorting money from hundreds of persons, so as not to post sexual explicit photos of them on the internet.

The Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID), said 27-year-old Ronald Oates, who had been under surveillance for months, was arrested at his home on Monday.

He was charged this morning under the Cyber Crimes Act and the Larceny Act.

Oates is scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court next Wednesday.

Deputy Superintendent Dwight Daley, who is the head of operations at OCID, said so far 25 victims have come forward.

However, he said investigations have revealed that hundreds of persons have been affected by the scheme.

Daley said a majority of the victims were from Kingston and St. Catherine, but stretch as far as Manchester.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, head of OCID, acting Senior Superintendent Clifford Campbell, said a search of Oates’ home turned up several computers, cell phones, wireless modems, thumb drives and telephone SIM cards.

The Star newspaper first reported earlier this year that several persons, including a top Jamaican entertainer, had complained that they had been contacted by the operators of a website, who demanded money to return sexually explicit photos removed from their phones and personal computers.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com