Webb among three charged with defrauding Concacaf

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (CMC):

Three persons accused of defrauding local and regional football bodies had charges filed against them when the case was mentioned in court on Monday.

Charmaine Moss, 45; Jeffrey Webb, 55; and Canover Watson, 49, were jointly charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf).

It is reported that between January 2012 and September 2014, the three allegedly created a fake company called Ironshore International Limited.

Through the fake company, the trio is said to have claimed to be agents of Admiral Financial Centre Ltd.

The charge further alleges that false, inflated invoices were submitted to Concacaf.

Moss and Webb are jointly charged with an additional count of conspiracy to defraud Concacaf, which alleges the submission of more fraudulent invoices during the same time period.

Moss also faces a third and final count of converting criminal property in relation to funds transferred to Ironshore International Limited and Moss International Limited.

She is currently employed with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service as a business development manager.

Last week, Police Commissioner Derek Byrne confirmed that he had placed Moss on required leave, “pending the disposal of the charges by the Director of public prosecutions”.

He added that the charges predated her employment with the police force.

At the time the offences are alleged to have occurred, Webb was serving as a FIFA vice-president, Concacaf president, and Cayman Islands Football Association (UFA) president.

Watson also served in an executive role with CIFA. Moss was not a member of CIFA; however, she worked closely with the organisation.

Webb remains in the United States under strict bail conditions as he awaits sentencing on several counts of money laundering, fraud, and racketeering, charges to which he has already pleaded guilty.

Waston remains on bail for matters of a similar nature that are currently before the courts.

Moss has denied the charges, and she is expected to make her first court appearance in January 2020.