Key Takeaways
- Jordan Trought, a Jamaican national, pleaded guilty to being a leader in a Sweepstake Fraud ring that stole over $9 million from 200+ older Americans.
- He faces up to 30 years in prison and has agreed to pay restitution of $6,166,227 after being extradited to the U.S.
- The fraud involved con artists claiming victims won prizes but requiring them to pay fees before receiving their supposed winnings.
- Victims sent money through various methods, often to accounts controlled by Trought and his associates, who exploited trust and targeted older individuals.
- Prosecutors emphasize their commitment to protecting vulnerable Americans and pursuing fraudsters across borders.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
A Jamaican national recently pleaded guilty to being a high-ranking member of an international Sweepstake fraud ring that stole more than US$9 million from over 200 older Americans in a decade-long sweepstakes fraud scheme, United States federal prosecutors announced.
Jordan Trought, 30, entered a guilty plea on June 1 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud.
Law enforcement arrested Trought in Jamaica in August 2025 and extradited him to the United States to face charges.
He faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Plus he has agreed to make restitution and pay a forfeiture amounting to $6,166,227.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said Trought was a senior member of a Jamaica-based fraud ring. This ring targeted older victims across the United States between 2015 and 2025.
Trought reportedly joined the ring in 2021 and became one of its leaders. Authorities held him responsible for more than US$6 million stolen from more than 100 victims between March 2021 and his arrest in 2025.
Sweepstake fraud victims sent large sums of money to conspirators
Prosecutors said co-conspirators would call or text victims claiming they had won large sums of money and luxury cars from a well-known marketing and sweepstakes company. But victims would need to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.
The caller then maintained contact with the victims and, after they made the initial payments as directed, informed them that additional payments were necessary to claim their supposed winnings.
The crooks instructed victims to send money through various methods. These include mailing checks, money orders, cash, and electronic transfers via wire, Zelle, and Venmo to addresses and accounts specified by the caller.
Prosecutors indicated that Trought and his co-conspirators also gained control of some sweepstake fraud victims’ bank accounts. Then they used those accounts to transfer money out. Ultimately, victims’ funds were sent to associates of Trought and his co-conspirators, as well as to an automobile business that Trought operated in Jamaica.
US Attorney Jay Clayton said Trought and his co-conspirators allegedly exploited trust and age by taking control of victims’ bank accounts. Then, they routedthe stolen money to Jamaica.
He emphasized that the plea reflects his office’s commitment to protecting vulnerable Americans against sweepstake fraud. Further, Clayton said he will not relent in pursuing fraudsters across borders, and holding those who steal from Americans accountable.