Former manager admits to stealing $57m from hotel accounts
Published:Friday | September 19, 2025 | 12:14 AM
A former operations manager at a boutique hotel in Negril is to be sentenced on October 13 after admitting to embezzling more than $57 million from his employer’s bank accounts, which he initially tried to disguise as the result of a credit card scam.
Paul Wilson pleaded guilty in the Westmoreland Parish Court on September 1 to conspiracy to defraud, access with intent to commit an offence, larceny as a servant, fraudulent conversion, and obtaining credit by fraud before Senior Parish Judge Broderick Smith.
According to the facts outlined, Wilson abused his access to the hotel’s four bank accounts between September 2020 and June 2021, making hundreds of unauthorised wire transfers using his personal login credentials and banking tokens amounting to $9,333,965.69 and US$340,899.69.
Wilson, who had worked at the hotel for more than five years, was responsible for payroll, utility payments, operational expenses, and taxes. His access gave him full control of the hotel’s finances.
In November 2020, the hotel owner – residing mostly overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic – grew suspicious about the company’s financial performance. When questioned, Wilson claimed that the losses were due to a credit card scam.
By June 2021, the owner reviewed the accounts again and discovered numerous unauthorised transfers made by Wilson. These transfers, which spanned from September 2020 to June 2021, were sent to Wilson’s personal accounts and to individuals not connected to the hotel.
A police report was filed on June 2, 2025, and Wilson was arrested. Investigations revealed that Wilson used his unique login credentials and security tokens to access the company’s online banking platform and approve the unauthorised transactions.
Further investigations revealed that Wilson had fraudulently submitted a loan application for the company in the amount of US$120,000 in February 2021 using forged signatures. Once the loan funds were deposited into the company account, Wilson transferred the money to his personal account and others unrelated to the business.
The purported signature of the owner of the company, along with Wilson’s, was used on the application.
Additionally, in March 2021, the complainant gave Wilson a cheque for US$27,000, which was offered to cover operational expenses, but the bank record showed that Wilson diverted the funds to his own account as well as to his accomplice.
Wilson initially claimed that he was a victim of a credit card scam when questioned. However, analysis of his mobile phone by the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Division uncovered incriminating text messages. These messages revealed a conspiracy involving Wilson and his accomplices to steal funds from the hotel.
Crown Counsel Anita Hall led the prosecution, and Wilson was represented by aattorney Shane Walker.