Car Dealer Sentenced for $30M Fraud After Time Served

St Ann, Jamaica — A businessman who admitted to defrauding 17 clients of nearly $30 million has been sentenced to the 15 months he already spent in custody while awaiting trial.

Akeem Adamson, a licensed car dealer, was sentenced today in the St Ann Parish Court, weeks after pleading guilty to 17 counts of fraudulent conversion.

According to court records, Adamson either accepted payments from clients for the importation of vehicles that were never delivered or took cars from owners to sell but failed to turn over the proceeds.

Before this case, Adamson had faced similar charges in the St James Parish Court. However, those cases were dismissed in January last year after he agreed to restitution through court-ordered mediation.

His attorney, Donnovan Collins, said the judge appropriately credited Adamson for the time he had already served in custody. He added that the court carefully considered sentencing principles, including those outlined in the Criminal Justice Administration Act, to ensure a fair outcome.

“As such, we are of the view that the scales were balanced,” Collins said in response to the ruling.

Adamson’s sentencing brings closure to the case, but it remains unclear if his victims will receive full compensation for their losses.