Five Jamaicans are among six individuals cops in the United States charged. The charges stemmed from an alleged multimillion-dollar sweepstakes fraud scheme that primarily targeted older Americans across the country.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has identified the accused. They are Andre-Jon Gayle, 33, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Aaliyah Mayne, 25, from Dania, Florida; Onaje Chevers, 29, also from Dania, Florida; Matthew Hutchinson, 24, from Williamsburg, Virginia; and Courtney Reynolds, 31, from Miami, Florida. All five are Jamaican citizens.
The sixth accused is Roshaun Thompson, 24, a US citizen from Fort Lauderdale.
Federal prosecutors stated that this group operated a fraudulent Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scheme in 2022. This scheme defrauded older victims across the United States of millions of dollars.
Investigators said that the defendants purchased lists containing the names of older individuals across the country, including in Connecticut. Then, falsely informed them that they had won millions of dollars in a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.
The accused reportedly informed victims that they needed to pay taxes or processing fees before claiming their prizes. They then instructed the victims to send cash, checks, and money orders to members of the conspiracy.
Accused in sweepstakes Fraud scheme allegedly coerced certain victims into joining a so-called “sponsor program to suck more money from them
The indictment alleges that the accused coerced certain victims into joining a so-called “sponsor program.” In this program, victims unknowingly transferred money to other victims and members of the fraud ring.
Authorities further allege that victims surrendered their driver’s licenses, banking information, and other personal details. The accused then used this information to make unauthorized purchases. Furthermore, prosecutors claim that Social Security benefits belonging to the victims were diverted into Green Dot accounts controlled by members of the scheme.
A federal grand jury in New Haven returned the indictment on June 2, charging all six defendants with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each offense carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
Cops arrested Mayne, Chevers, and Reynolds on June 4; Thompson on June 5; Hutchinson on June 9; and Gayle on June 10.
Gayle, Hutchinson, Reynolds, and Thompson appeared before a federal court in Bridgeport on Friday. They pleaded not guilty and the authorities released them on $250,000 bonds. Mayne and Chevers remain in custody.
“As alleged, this was an organized sweepstakes fraudmthat ruthlessly preyed upon the vulnerabilities of our older citizens, defrauding them of millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan.