⏱ 2 min read
A 38-year-old Georgia man, Patrick Dallas, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a wide-ranging lottery and sweepstakes scam that defrauded senior citizens in Rhode Island and multiple other states out of at least $1 million. The scam, which involved bogus claims of winning large sums of money in a fake Publishers Clearing House (PCH) lottery, targeted vulnerable seniors across the country. Dallas and his co-conspirators used the scam to drain their victims’ savings and exploit their trust.
The scam worked by telling victims they had won large sums of money, often millions of dollars, in a PCH lottery or sweepstakes. To collect their purported winnings, victims were instructed to provide personal identifying information for “verification” and to pay upfront fees and taxes. Some victims were even directed to send money, gift cards, and high-value items such as Rolex watches and iPhones to addresses controlled by the defendants.
Dallas was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose, who also ordered him to pay restitution for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence reflects the determination of law enforcement to hold accountable those who profit from fraud and deceit, particularly when it comes to targeting vulnerable victims like seniors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda and HSI New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming praised the sentence, saying it sends a strong message to those who would prey on seniors and other vulnerable victims.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Rhode Island
- Location: RI
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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