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Lottery Scam Kingpin Charged with $200K Heist
PHILADELPHIA – In a brazen scheme that preyed on the elderly, Maurice Simmonds, 6 others charged with running a Jamaican lottery scam that netted over $200,000, authorities announced today.
The indictment alleges that Simmonds, the mastermind behind the operation, and his cohorts convinced victims they had won the Jamaican lottery but needed to pay tens of thousands of dollars in ‘fees’ to claim their winnings. The victims, many of whom had diminished mental capacity, were repeatedly coerced to provide cash, checks, and property, only to be left with nothing.
The scheme, which ran from January 2012 to March 2015, targeted vulnerable individuals in the US, including an elderly resident of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. In that case, Simmonds and others were also charged with wire fraud and travel fraud.
The indictment, filed by Assistant US Attorney Anita Eve, charges the six defendants with conspiring to commit mail, bank and wire fraud. If convicted, each faces a substantial prison term, possible fines, special assessments, and supervised release.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division Senior Exploitation Unit, and the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging.
According to the indictment, the victims were repeatedly contacted by the conspirators, who used various tactics to extract money from them. The scheme was designed to exploit the vulnerabilities of the victims, many of whom were elderly and had diminished capacity.
The indictment serves as a reminder of the importance of being vigilant and aware of scams targeting vulnerable individuals. Authorities urge anyone who has been a victim of this or any other scam to come forward and report it.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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