Correction: A previous version stated that Kevin Rolle has a PhD from Sojourner Douglass College. He received a Doctor of Education from the institution.
NEW YORK – A former Bahamian whiz kid has fallen from grace.
Kevin Dion Rolle Jr, who went to Northern Caribbean University at age 12, was jailed for five years in a $1.2million credit card scam on November 12.
In addition to the prison term, the 27-year-old has to pay $1.4 million in restitution and forfeit $1.5million.
Rolle pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in a New York Court.
Last year, authorities arrested Rolle in Puerto Rico for his role in the credit card fraud scheme. Prior to his arrest, Rolle lived with his husband in Manhattan.
From October 2015 to September 2020, Rolle took part in a credit card “bust out” scheme, where a credit card user incurs numerous charges with no intention of paying the bill.
A Department of Justice press release said, “As part of his multi-year fraud scheme, Rolle submitted multiple credit card applications to American Express, which often included or were supported by documentation containing false identifying information.
“Once Rolle received a credit card, he used the credit card for a short period of time to purchase luxury items, including, among other things, Cartier jewelry and a Bentley.”
Cunning Rolle even received a $209,500 insurance payout after he claimed gunmen robbed him of jewelry in Washington, DC.
Rolle claims to be the president of Cherub College in The Bahamas. However, the FBI has been unable to verify the school’s existence.
This is Rolle’s second conviction for credit card fraud.
In 2014, Rolle was jailed for 10 months in the United Kingdom after carrying out a similar scam.
It’s unclear if Rolle, who was once featured on the BBC, completed his theology studies at Jamaica’s Northern Caribbean.
However, his lawyer submitted diplomas showing that Rolle obtained an MBA in International Business from Ashworth College in 2017.
He received a Doctor of Education from Sojourner Douglass College in 2013.
What can we say? He clearly was on a path that belied his great promise and learning. Nevertheless he is still a man, subject to failings like all of us are. I pray for his awakening and reformation. God can still make something beautiful out of this young soul.