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Jamaican National Sentenced for Long-Running Sweepstakes Scheme
A California woman was left out of pocket after being defrauded of over $181,000 by a Jamaican national in a long-running sweepstakes scheme.
Dwayne Anderson, 36, of Hannover, Jamaica, was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for participating in the scheme.
According to court documents, Anderson contacted the victim by telephone, text message, and email between 2010 and 2017, falsely informing her that she had won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes.
Anderson persuaded the victim to send money to pay various purported fees and taxes associated with the alleged winnings, instructing her on how to make the payments, including sending money to an individual in South Dakota.
Between 2010 and 2017, the victim paid Anderson over $181,000 in total.
Anderson was arrested on July 11, 2024, by Jamaican authorities based on a U.S. indictment and was extradited to the United States.
On September 2025, Anderson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Anderson was ordered to pay more than $181,075 in restitution at sentencing.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigated the case, with Assistant Chief J. Matt Williams and Trial Attorneys Brandon J. Robers and Edward E. Emokpae of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson for the District of South Dakota prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Jamaica to secure the arrest and August 2024 extradition of Anderson. The Jamaica Constabulary Force also assisted in the matter.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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