29-01-2025
Charlotte federal judge sentenced Jamaican man to prison for operating fraudulent lottery scheme: DOJ
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A federal judge in Charlotte sentenced a Jamaican man to prison for operating a Jamaican-based fraudulent lottery scheme on Monday, according to the Department of Justice.
According to court documents, and as part of his plea, Anthony Linton Stewart, 40, admits that from 2010 to at least 2016, he led a fraudulent lottery fraud scheme where he and his co-conspirators targeted victims in the U.S.
Stewart admitted that he contacted elderly people by phone and falsely told them that they won the lottery or other prizes in a sweepstakes. Stewart told victims that they needed to send money to pay fees and taxes on their winnings. He would repeatedly contact victims for as long as they could be persuaded to send more money. No lottery existed and no victim ever received any winnings.
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'Overseas lottery schemes are unfortunately a common means by which foreign criminals seek to target U.S. citizens, particularly elder Americans,' said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division. 'Such schemes are unacceptable, and the Department will hold accountable those who participate in them.'
Stewart pleaded guilty on August 3, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. On Jan. 27, 2025, Stewart was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,104,041.74 in restitution.
'Stealing money from elderly individuals is a despicable crime,' said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina. 'Today's sentence sends a clear message that fraudsters who target and exploit older adults for financial gain will be brought to justice.'
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
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