Grant County, WASH. — The Sheriff’s Crime Reduction Team (CRT) arrested a man from Jamaica on Sunday, accusing him of scamming an 87-year-old Grant County man of over $100,000.
Investigators learned that since October, the victim had been scammed with the promise of luxury cars, real estate, and other items. GCSO says the victim had sent money to the scammer through cash exchange, money transfers, and gift cards.
The Sheriff’s Office wrote in a press released that on Sunday afternoon, with the victim’s cooperation, CRT staked out the intersection of SR 26 and Beverly Burke Road-SW near the Vantage bridge. That’s where the scammer told the victim to meet him with $64,000 cash. They witnessed a black SUV park next to the victim’s car and watched as the SUV’s rear passenger received the $64,000 from the victim.
Deputies say they stopped the SUV as it drove away and quickly established that the vehicle was a ride-share and that the driver had no knowledge of a crime being committed.
The Sheriff’s Office says the passenger, 36-year-old Damion O. McDonald, had flown into the US from Jamaica on January 16. They say McDonald flew into SeaTac Airport and hired the ride-share to drive him to the Grant County meeting location.
Deputies learned that once the money had changed hands, McDonald was going to be driven to the Tri-Cities Airport for an outbound plane.
McDonald is lodged in the Grant County Jail, accused of first-degree theft from a vulnerable adult and first-degree possession of stolen property.
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