Pajama Billionaire facing new trial

Prosecutors at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court have sought to relist the matter against Chavez Allen, citing that they are now able to proceed with mounting a viable case against him.

Allen, who is charged with breaching the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act after illegally hosting a car raffle, was freed last June when Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks dismissed the matter for want of prosecution following a request from attorney-at-law Peter Champagnie K.C. for the Crown to either start or dismiss the matter against his client.

However, the Crown stood firm on Thursday before Parish Judge Leighton Morris indicating that it intends to prosecute Allen, as witnesses from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) stood in court.

Allen, popularly known as Pajama Billionaire, was arrested following reports in November 2020 that the BGLC had received information that an illegal raffle was advertised by him on social media platforms where a Mercedes Benz motor vehicle and cash prizes were being offered. On November 15, 2020, more than 3,000 social media users tuned in to Allen's Instagram live session where the holder of ticket 183 was announced as the winner of a Mercedes Benz CLA-250, valued at $5 million.

Allen had later indicated that the competition, which started months earlier in June, was a private, in-house raffle for students enrolled in his forex trading classes.

Raffle tickets were sold for US$50 (approximately $7,500) each.

Prosecutors indicated that there will be distribution of fresh disclosure, as they prepare for trial. The trial is to commence on September 27.