Update|Two more fast food workers charged in $1.5 million bitcoin scam

What started as a simple fast food run has now spiralled into a multimillion dollar fraud probe after detectives slapped charges on two more suspects in a card skimming and cryptocurrency laundering ring in Manchester.

Charged are 25-year-old Alrick Bruce, a fast food restaurant employee, and 23-year-old Shanae Smith, a sales representative. Both are from Highway Drive in Mandeville.

Their arrest on March 2, follows the earlier apprehension of three other fast food workers on February 14, after unauthorised transactions totalling more than 600,000 dollars were flagged.

Police say that between June 2025 and January 2026, Bruce allegedly compromised customers card information while working at a restaurant drive thru. Investigators allege that he used the stolen data to purchase Bitcoin and then funnelled approximately 1.5 million dollars into a bank account owned by Smith.

During simultaneous operations in Maverley, St Andrew and Mandeville, Manchester, lawmen also seized two firearms and five rounds of ammunition as the probe widened.

Bruce has been charged with conspiracy to defraud, simple larceny, possession of identity information and breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Smith faces charges of conspiracy to defraud and unlawfully making available a device or data for the commission of an offence.

Both are scheduled to appear before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on May 4.

Investigations into the alleged fraud ring are ongoing.

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