A West Hempstead, New York, man pleaded guilty to federal charges in a Boston courtroom Friday in connection with his role in a fake lottery scam targeting senior citizens.
Wilder Vladimir Merelan, 29, admitted he helped scheme to victimize people ranging in age from 69 to 91 between 2012 and 2015, according to the Massachusetts U.S. attorney's office.
The victims were told they had won millions in a lottery but had to pay taxes first to the Internal Revenue Service before they could get their share of the money, prosecutors said.
Sixteen people sent more than $830,000 to Merelan, who the victims were told was a "sub agent" for the IRS, according to prosecutors. Merelan kept part of the money and distributed the rest to his co-conspirators, including people in Jamaica, where authorities said the scam appears to have roots.
Several elderly residents, including one from Massachusetts, told authorities they received a call from a Jamaica-based phone number alerting them to their purported winnings.
Merelan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit tax and mail fraud.
The charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, plus 3 years of supervised release and a fine of at least $250,000.
Merelan is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10.
This is exactly why I support state lotteries, if we didn't have legal lotteries, we would have many more illegal lotteries.
You just cannot trust anybody these days.
Never ending supply of human garbage.
Too bad they don't make him pay for his upkeep in prison instead of the taxpayers who get screwed once again.
Personally I'd be happy if he were forced to repay all the monies and placed on probation.
Hey Vladimir when you see hot sauce...Say hi.
Don't drop the soap while you in there Vlad or your name could be changed to " Vlad the Impaled!"
There wouldn't be any scammers it there were no suckers. 330,000 collected. Just imagine how much charities and the IRS are stealing.
Lotto officials needs to be sentenced to 20 years of jail for conspiring and rigging and looting people for years
I too had a message stating, from the same woman, on the answering machine stating this is the last time the IRS will call you. To call back in such and such a #. This time I played along as long as I could. He gave me a fake name and badge # which I wrote down and I gave him a fake name as well. Said I owe $2421.35 for 2001 taxes and how could I pay it. He suggested electronic payment and this fool said someone will come by your home to get the check. Right, that defeats an electronic check I say to myself. Said i wasn't home. I then couldn't take it anymore, asked my taxpayer #. He started with I. R. M. then I hung up. Next time I will spell out in phoenetic Englis:h Sierra Charlie Alpha Mike!!