Grimy Times has learned that Carlos O’Brian Ricketts, 31, has been indicted in connection with a fraudulent lottery scheme based in Jamaica that targeted elderly victims in the United States.
According to the indictment, Ricketts, a resident of Virginia, was arrested on November 4 on a criminal complaint for his participation in the lottery scheme. The indictment, announced yesterday, supersedes the charge in the criminal complaint against Ricketts and charges him with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and 18 counts of money laundering.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Joyce R. Branda stated, “Co-conspirators in the United States are often key players in lottery schemes operating from foreign countries. The Department of Justice will continue to prosecute those who facilitate these pernicious schemes.”
The indictment alleges that Ricketts’ co-conspirator induced elderly victims in the United States to send thousands of dollars to Ricketts to cover fees for purported lottery winnings that in fact victims had not won. The victims were told that they had won thousands or millions of dollars in a lottery, but never received any winnings.
Ricketts faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count if convicted. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kathryn Drenning with the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Grayson Hoffman of the Western District of Virginia.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Clark E. Settles stated, “HSI has disrupted multiple lottery scams across the globe. The indictment of this individual marks yet another step against alleged con-artists who prey on elderly U.S. citizens.”
A criminal complaint and an indictment are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The government’s crackdown on fraudulent lottery schemes based in Jamaica that target elderly victims in the United States continues. Ricketts is being held without bail pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy stated, “Participants in international lottery frauds cannot seek shelter in the Western District of Virginia. We will bring those responsible to justice.”
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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