Woman charged after FID alleges she hid drug trafficker’s $250m property portfolio

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A retired haulage contractor from Clarendon has been charged with multiple money laundering offences after investigators alleged that she held more than J$250 million in properties on behalf of her late nephew, a convicted drug trafficker in the United States.

According to a release from the Financial Investigations Division (FID), Donna Marie Green-Mitchell was arrested and charged on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, following a joint investigation by the FID, the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Constabulary Financial Unit (CFU), Fraud Squad and the Financial Crime Investigations Division of the Specialised Investigations Branch (SIB).

Green-Mitchell faces three counts each of possession of criminal property, dealing in criminal property and engaging in a transaction involving criminal property. She has also been charged with one count each of entering into or becoming concerned in an arrangement for the acquisition of criminal property by or on behalf of another, acquisition of criminal property, and conspiracy to acquire criminal property.

The FID said she was offered bail in the sum of J$3 million and is scheduled to appear before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court in Half-Way Tree on July 9, 2026.

According to the release, financial investigators examined how three properties — originally valued at approximately J$120 million and now appraised at more than J$250 million — came to be registered in Green-Mitchell’s name across St Andrew, St Ann and Manchester.

The FID and CFU allege that the properties were beneficially owned by the late O’Neil McKenzie, Green-Mitchell’s nephew, a Jamaican national who resided in Brooklyn, New York. McKenzie was convicted of drug distribution offences in the United States and sentenced to 188 months in federal prison. He died in October 2023 while serving that sentence.

Investigators further allege that Green-Mitchell knowingly held and facilitated transactions involving property believed to represent the proceeds of McKenzie’s criminal conduct.

Commenting on the case, Deputy Superintendent of Police Brent Williams, head of the CFU, said: “The strategic partnership between the FID and the JCF continues to deliver positive results as we tackle financial crime. Both entities and their financial crime investigators have the competency, tools, knowledge and expertise to pursue complex investigations and bring criminals to justice. Support from international partners is particularly useful when financial crimes include transnational activities”.

He added, “Jamaicans need to be extremely cautious when asked to register properties or make purchases in their name on behalf of someone else, especially if they can’t verify that the source of funds is legitimate. Not doing proper due diligence could land you in trouble with the law resulting in hefty fines, lengthy imprisonment and loss of property.”

The FID stressed in the release that the charges against Green-Mitchell are allegations and that she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The agency said investigations into the matter are ongoing.

The division also reminded the public that allowing one’s name to be used to hold or acquire assets on behalf of another person — an arrangement known as beneficial ownership — is a criminal offence under Jamaican law where the source of funds cannot be verified as legitimate.

According to the FID, people found to be acting in that capacity face prosecution, asset forfeiture and imprisonment, adding that Jamaica’s laws and reporting systems are designed to identify and expose such arrangements.