Kimberly Powell, Lottery Scam, New York 2023

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kimberly Powell, 38, of Schenectady, New York, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today to 37 months for her part in a ruthless lottery scam that preyed on vulnerable elderly citizens. The scheme, originating in Jamaica, bilked victims out of tens of thousands of dollars with false promises of huge winnings.

The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, following Powell’s August 3, 2016 guilty plea to mail fraud charges. Along with the prison term, Powell will serve a 3-year term of supervised release upon her release. The announcement came from United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Shelly A. Binkowski, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Boston Division.

Powell admitted in court to working alongside her husband, Jeragh Powell, and other co-conspirators to flood the mailboxes of elderly Americans with bogus lottery prize notifications. These letters falsely informed recipients they’d won a substantial prize – often including cash and vehicles – but required them to immediately wire tens of thousands of dollars to cover “fees and taxes,” and “shipping and handling” costs before the prize could be delivered. The scam wasn’t just letters; conspirators in Jamaica relentlessly followed up with phone calls, pressuring victims to send money to accounts controlled by individuals within the United States.

The operation was lucrative. Kimberly Powell and Jeragh Powell, 26 and a citizen of Jamaica, raked in over $65,000 from their victims before being caught. A significant portion of that stolen money was then funneled to Jeragh Powell’s associates back in Jamaica, completing the cycle of exploitation. Jeragh Powell was also brought to justice, pleading guilty to mail fraud and receiving a 41-month prison sentence on January 31, 2017.

Investigators from the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Schenectady Police Department painstakingly pieced together the evidence, revealing the scope of the fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Coffman skillfully prosecuted the case, bringing the Powells and their scheme to account.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers facing elderly Americans who are increasingly targeted by sophisticated fraud schemes. Authorities urge anyone who receives unsolicited lottery notifications to exercise extreme caution and report suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission or their local law enforcement agency. Don’t become another victim.