Jamaican Lottery Scammer Anderson Pleads Guilty

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, finally admitted guilt Friday to a years-long scheme that bilked a California woman out of over $181,000. The con man pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, bringing a small measure of justice to a victim exploited across borders.

Anderson, formerly of Hannover, Jamaica, wasn’t apprehended locally. He was initially arrested by Jamaican authorities on July 11, 2024, following a U.S. indictment. It took another month, but the Justice Department successfully extradited him to the United States, where he’s been held pending this trial. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment hustle; prosecutors say the fraud stretched from as early as 2010 until September 2017.

The scheme was classic, but devastatingly effective. Anderson, using aliases, contacted the victim via phone, text, and email, spinning a tale of a massive sweepstakes win – millions, he claimed. He then systematically convinced her to send money, not to *receive* her winnings, but to cover “fees” and “taxes.” He directed her where and to whom these payments should go, relentlessly requesting more cash with promises that the jackpot was just around the corner. The victim, believing Anderson’s lies, handed over more than $181,000, seeing none of it ever returned.

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting Americans from the threats posed by transnational criminals and will vigorously pursue them, wherever they are located,” stated Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. It’s a nice sentiment, but the damage is already done for this victim. This case is a stark reminder that these schemes originate overseas and require international cooperation to even begin to unravel.

U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota echoed the sentiment, adding, “Whether it happens in a rural community or a metropolitan area, the Department of Justice will ensure these criminals are held to account for their shameless targeting of vulnerable individuals and their hard-earned savings.” The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) spearheaded the investigation, highlighting how these scams often utilize the mail system. Inspector in Charge Eric Shen warned, “If you target vulnerable Americans with schemes designed to steal their hard-earned money, you will become our target.”

The prosecution team, led by Assistant Director J. Matt Williams, Senior Trial Attorney Brandon Robers, Trial Attorney Edward E. Emokpae, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Hoffman, secured this guilty plea. Victims of elder fraud can seek assistance through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11. Reporting is crucial; it’s the first step in identifying these criminals and potentially recovering lost funds. The hotline is available seven days a week, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, offering support in English and Spanish.