Rowan George Hemmings, Lottery Scam Facilitation, Miami FL, 2023

MIAMI, FL – Rowan George Hemmings, 46, of Miami-Dade County, is facing federal charges for his continued involvement in a sophisticated lottery scam originating in Jamaica. Hemmings, already warned once, allegedly resumed collecting funds from victims swindled by the fraudulent scheme, proving a promise is only as good as the con man keeping it.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer, along with Inspector in Charge Ronald J. Verrochio of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and Special Agent in Charge Alysa D. Erichs of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), announced the charges against Hemmings. He’s been slapped with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, a clear indication federal authorities aren’t playing games.

The scheme, dating back to at least December 2012, preyed on unsuspecting U.S. citizens with the false promise of lottery winnings. Victims were told they needed to front several thousand dollars to claim their prize – a prize that never materialized. Co-conspirators allegedly directed victims to send the money, some of which ended up in Hemmings’ pockets. The audacity is breathtaking.

This isn’t Hemmings’ first brush with the law regarding this scam. Back in January 2013, law enforcement confronted him in Miramar, Florida, after intercepting a package containing money from a victim. He signed a “Consent Agreement to Cease and Desist,” essentially promising to stay away from this type of fraud. But old habits die hard. In January 2015, another package, sent by a different victim, landed on Hemmings’ doorstep in Homestead, Florida. He allegedly made multiple attempts to intercept it, spitting on his previous agreement.

Federal investigators aren’t letting this slide. The case is being built on the collaborative efforts of USPIS, ICE-HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Interdiction Task Force, the Miami Dade Police Department Economic Crimes Unit, and even the Jamaica Constabulary Force – a testament to the international reach of these scams. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani is prosecuting the case. The JOLT (Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing) taskforce, established in 2008, is dedicated to dismantling these operations, specifically targeting senior citizens.

It’s crucial to remember that a criminal complaint is simply an accusation. Hemmings is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But with a prior agreement to cease and desist already broken, the feds have a strong case. More details can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida website at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls, and court documents at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.