Manchester JP and former JP arrested on fraud-related charges

Those charged are 64 year-old Dudley Powell, a current Justice of the Peace and businessman of Glenco, Spalding, Clarendon,  and 46 year-old decommissioned JP, Marvin Dean, of Cross Keys and Newport, Manchester.

Powell has been charged with cheating the public revenue, conspiracy, using an official seal for fraudulent or unlawful purpose, and misconduct in a public office.

His accomplice, Dean, has been hit with 12 charges, including impersonating a doctor, cheating the public revenue, uttering forged documents, possession of false documents, forgery; forging a government seal and uttering forged seal.

The police have also charged him with obtaining money by means of false pretense, conspiracy, forging the seal of a notary public, possession of forged stamp and attempted bribery.

Both men are scheduled to attend the Manchester Parish Court on Wednesday, June 3.

They were arrested on May 18 on allegations that they were charging for JP services and carrying out other fraudulent activities in the parish.

Custos responds

Custos of Manchester, Garfield Green has disclosed that Marvin Dean was decommissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 2024 after he was found to be charging for his services.

Mr Green said, prior to that, Dean was formally warned after similar reports were made against him. He related an incident in which the accused, after being decommissioned, confirmed the photographs of a JP applicant who delivered her application to his office and that he immediately reported the matter to the police.

Dean was called in by the police, warned and his rubber stamps confiscated and destroyed.

The Custos further disclosed that, when Dean and Justice of the Peace Dudley Powell were arrested, they were found with documents and stamps that suggested that they were purporting to be medical doctors, signing driver's licence application forms.

He said the police are pursuing further investigations into allegations that the men were involved in other illegal activities, such as signing bail application documents for persons in custody.

According to Custos Green, this “troubling” development has potential implications for public trust and the integrity of the office of Justice of the Peace.

“It strikes at the heart of public trust in the justice of the peace system,” he observed, adding that “the vast majority of JPs across Jamaica serve with integrity, without compensation, and with a genuine commitment to community service, which is what they have signed up for. So what happened in Mandeville does not represent who our JPs are. It is a serious but isolated breach, and it reminds us why vigilance, accountability, and strong oversight are essential.”

The Manchester Custos said the arrest of the two men served as a reminder that misconduct will not be tolerated.

He said his office will continue to work with the police to uncover the facts in the matter.