Lottery Scam Duo Indicted

BROOKLYN LOTTERY SCAM: Two Brooklyn men, Corey Anthony Buddle, 22, and his father Horace Anthony Buddle, 44, have been implicated in a brazen lottery scam that targeted vulnerable individuals nationwide.

According to court records, the Buddles allegedly conspired to commit mail and wire fraud by convincing victims they had won massive cash prizes, including a staggering $1,000,000 and a Mercedes Benz automobile. The victims were coerced into sending packages of money to addresses in Brooklyn, with one man from Rochester, NY, parting with $130,000 in 16 separate transactions between May 20 and July 18, 2011.

Another victim, a Missouri resident, lost a staggering $140,000 in 26 deposits made into Corey Buddle’s Bank of America accounts between July 11, 2012, and April 4, 2013. The indictment alleges that some of the money was withdrawn in Jamaica, further highlighting the scope of the scheme.

A third victim, a Florida resident, wired $37,000 into Corey Buddle’s bank accounts in nine separate transfers between August 2, 2012, and April 4, 2013. The victim received a fake letter from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security claiming he was $25,000 in arrears on his taxes.

The indictment, the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Campana is handling the case, which serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of lottery scams targeting the elderly and vulnerable.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. has vowed to hold accountable those who prey on the most vulnerable members of society.

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