Jamaican National Sentenced for Long-Running Sweepstakes Scheme

Under U.S. federal law, wire fraud is using electronic communications (like phone calls, emails, texts, or online transfers) as part of a scheme to cheat someone out of money or property.

To convict someone of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343), prosecutors generally must prove all of these elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. There was a scheme to defraud or obtain money/property by false or fraudulent pretenses.
2. The scheme involved a material false statement or omission (a lie or half‑truth that would matter to a reasonable person).
3. The defendant acted with specific intent to defraud (it wasn’t a mistake or accident).
4. The defendant used, or caused someone to use, interstate or international wire communications (such as phone, internet, or electronic funds transfer) in furtherance of the scheme.

In a sweepstakes scam, those wires are typically the phone calls, emails, or electronic money transfers used to convince and collect money from the victim.

In this case, restitution is the judge’s order that Anderson repay the victim for the financial loss caused by his crime (about $181,075). It is part of the criminal sentence, not a voluntary payment, and is enforceable like a court judgment.

Collection and enforcement typically work as follows in federal cases:

• While in prison: The Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Financial Responsibility Program (IFRP) makes inmates set up a payment plan and takes money from their prison earnings and any deposits into their prison accounts to pay court‑ordered obligations, including restitution.
• After release: Paying restitution is usually made a condition of supervised release. A U.S. Probation Officer monitors payments, and missing payments can lead to violations.
• Government enforcement: The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office can use civil collection tools (for example, seizing funds sent to the court, and other lawful collection methods) until the restitution is paid or the legal collection period ends.

Even if a defendant cannot immediately pay the full amount, the order remains in place until it is paid or expires by law.

Supervised release is a period of court‑ordered supervision in the community that begins after a person finishes a federal prison sentence. The person must follow conditions (for example, report to a probation officer, don’t commit new crimes, sometimes restrictions on travel, finances, or internet use). Violating conditions can lead to a hearing and additional prison time.

Probation is also court‑ordered community supervision, but it is imposed instead of (or with only a short) prison term. The person lives in the community from the start of the sentence under similar types of conditions, supervised by the same U.S. Probation Office. If probation is revoked for violations, the court can send the person to prison on the original charge.

Key difference: probation is an alternative to incarceration; supervised release follows incarceration as a transition back into the community.

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is the federal law‑enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service. Postal Inspectors investigate crimes that use the mail or affect the postal system, including mail fraud, identity theft, counterfeit postage, and some online scams when money or goods move through the mail.

In sweepstakes or lottery frauds, scammers often send letters or official‑looking notices through the mail, or have victims mail payments, forms, or valuables. USPIS can:

• Identify and investigate fraudulent mailings and related online activity.
• Collect evidence (envelopes, payment records, phone and internet records) and interview victims.
• Work with the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Offices to bring federal fraud charges such as mail and wire fraud.

In Anderson’s case, USPIS was the lead investigative agency that helped develop the evidence for prosecution.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) is a unit within the Criminal Division that handles cross‑border criminal cooperation. It manages U.S. requests to other countries and foreign requests to the U.S. for:

• Extradition (surrendering fugitives for prosecution or sentencing),
• Mutual legal assistance (sharing evidence, arranging testimony), and
• Other lawful methods of returning or removing wanted persons.

In extraditions, including from countries like Jamaica, the typical steps are:

1. U.S. charges: A U.S. court issues an indictment or complaint and an arrest warrant.
2. Formal request: Through OIA and the State Department, the U.S. submits an extradition request under the applicable extradition treaty, including the charges, evidence, and legal basis.
3. Arrest abroad: Local authorities (for example, the Jamaica Constabulary Force) arrest the person based on the U.S. request.
4. Foreign court review: Courts in the requested country hold extradition proceedings to decide if treaty conditions are met (such as dual criminality and sufficient evidence). The person may appeal.
5. Surrender: If the foreign courts and government approve, the person is formally surrendered, typically to U.S. Marshals or other U.S. authorities, and transported to the United States to face the charges.

In Anderson’s case, OIA worked with Jamaican authorities to secure his arrest in Jamaica and his extradition to the United States.

Common sweepstakes and lottery frauds generally work like this:

• Unsolicited contact: You get a phone call, letter, email, text, or social‑media message saying you’ve won a large prize or lottery, often from a foreign country or well‑known brand.
• Up‑front payment: You’re told you must first pay “fees,” “taxes,” “customs,” or “insurance” via wire transfer, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, or mailed cash/checks before you can receive the prize.
• Pressure and secrecy: Scammers create urgency, tell you not to tell family or banks, and may pretend to be from government agencies (for example, the FTC, IRS, or made‑up “National Sweepstakes Bureau”).
• No real prize: After you pay, they either disappear or keep demanding more money; there is never a legitimate prize.

To avoid becoming a victim:

• Do not pay to collect a prize. In the U.S., it’s illegal for legitimate sweepstakes or lotteries to require payment to claim winnings.
• Be skeptical if you never entered. Being told you’ve won a contest you don’t remember entering is a classic red flag.
• Never give bank details, Social Security number, or copies of ID to claim a prize.
• Hang up or delete suspicious messages; don’t click links or open attachments.
• Verify directly: If the message claims to be from a real company or government agency, contact it using an official phone number or website, not the contact info in the message.
• Report scams to the FTC, your state attorney general, and USPIS if the mail is used.

Older adults are frequently targeted, so families should talk openly about these warning signs.