A Jamaican national has pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud charges stemming from a years-long sweepstakes scam that defrauded a California woman out of more than $181,000.
Dwayne Anderson, 35, of Hannover, Jamaica, admitted that between 2010 and September 2017 he posed under false identities and repeatedly contacted the victim by phone, text, and email. He falsely told her she had won millions of dollars, persuading her to send money for supposed fees and taxes with the promise her winnings would be released. The victim never received any payout.
Anderson was arrested in Jamaica on July 11, 2024, based on a U.S. indictment and extradited the following month. He has been held in custody since.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation, while the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated with Jamaican authorities to secure extradition. Prosecutors from the DOJ’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota are handling the case.
Authorities urged anyone affected by financial fraud, particularly older Americans, to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 for help and to report scams.
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