A Jamaican national was sentenced to three years for a lottery wire-fraud scheme that cost a 73-year-old retiree in southwest Washington more than $600,000. DOJ says he posed as a Publisher’s Clearing House employee, demanded taxes and fees, and coerced the victim into selling her home and paying via couriers.

DOJ announced that a Jamaican national received a three-year prison sentence for a lottery wire-fraud scheme that devastated a 73-year-old victim in southwest Washington. Prosecutors allege the defendant used advance-fee lottery fraud tactics by impersonating a legitimate lottery brand—framing himself as a Publisher’s Clearing House employee—and persuading the victim that she had won a prize. As the scheme progressed, DOJ reports the scammer demanded payment of taxes and other fees before the “winnings” could be released. Instead of allowing ordinary verification, the defendant used manipulation and coercion to keep the victim compliant. DOJ further alleges that he even claimed the FBI was recording calls, heightening fear and discouraging the victim from seeking help. To secure money for the payments, DOJ says the defendant pressured the victim into selling her home and sending funds through couriers. This reflects a classic escalation pattern in lottery scams: initial prize promises lead to repeated fee demands, which then culminate in large financial decisions and risky payment methods. DOJ’s case highlights how impersonation, intimidation, and relocation-level financial pressure can combine to produce catastrophic losses for older victims.