BISMARCK, N.D. — Two more suspects have pleaded guilty in a Jamaican lottery scam that authorities say bilked at least 90 Americans out of more than $5.7 million.
O'Neil Brown and Dahlia Hunter earlier reached plea deals with prosecutors. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy in separate hearings this week. The government dropped dozens of fraud and money laundering counts.
Seven other defendants have pleaded guilty in recent months, including Hunter's son, Lavrick Willocks, who authorities say masterminded the scam.
Four suspects are still scheduled for trial in January and two others remain fugitives in Jamaica.
The case is being prosecuted in federal court in North Dakota. Prosecutors believe it to be the first large-scale Jamaican lottery scam prosecuted in the U.S.
The investigation dating to 2011 resulted in charges against 27 people.
Earlier this week, scammers being prosecuted in Jamaica for similar crimes received relatively easy sentences by the court, with defendants paying fines without jail time.
I think all these scammers should rot in jail.
These suspects are trading a life in Jamaica for a cold one in North Dakota. That is punishment enough.
They didn't get all the scammers....
There is also a Publisher Clearing House scam from Jamaica. I've heard about it for years. Last week at work, the conference room phone was ringing, it never does and the number was from Kingston Jamaica. I answered it and a robot type voice said they were from Publisher Clearing House and asked if I heard of them. I said "yes, and I also have heard the the Jamacian PCH phone scammers"
They hung up.
Still not sure how these scammers could call some random extention at some random business and expect the person on the other end (that the scammers don't know the name of) and they might not even know what PCH is. These scammers think they can make their victim believe they won a contest they never entered or even heard of?!?
According to this Forbes article, they target the elderly that can be easily confused. Please remind your elderly parent to watch out for these scams, especially if they want to "pre-pay the tax" with walmart gift cards. The government does not expect you to pay taxes with a Walmart Gift Card, yet.
Too bad the USA couldn't hit them where it hurts, Jamaica that is. It would never happen in a million years but if Americans weren't allowed to travel to Jamaica that would devastate their tourism dollars in a big way.
Personally I think everyone running these lottery offices should spend their equal time in jail,they scam us everyday,
Hello Mr/Mrs XXX,
We are from PCH and you won one million dollars. We will come to your house and go with you to the bank to deposit the money. We will bring a marshal with us for security because it's a lot of money. You just have to withdraw $1,500 for processing and the million dollars is yours.
They actually said this to a relative of mine.
That's when l would say, l am authorizing you to take double that amount off the top of my million dollars. In fact lm feeling pretty generous today, You go right ahead and take $10,000 and leave the change.
Do we have an accord?
not shocked there is always some wicked person wanting quick money so suffer the con---
And I Agree, Jail they need to be in for life.