U.S. and Jamaican Authorities Hand Out Charges in Nationwide Lottery Swindle
Headline: Seven Individuals Indicted in Pittsburgh for Alleged Lottery Scam, Netting Over $2.8 Million
In a significant move against fraudulent activities, a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, indicted seven individuals on June 23, 2025, for their alleged involvement in a lottery scam that targeted unsuspecting Americans.
The indictment, announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh, accuses Jason Plummer, Troy Williams, and Tajay Singh from Jamaica, along with Tashane Murray of Miramar, Florida, Clevon McKenzie of Mount Vernon, New York, Gyzzell Byfield of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Daneil Reid of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, of running a lottery scam out of Jamaica.
The scam, which has been operating for some time, allegedly netted the group at least $2.8 million. Victims were told they had won a significant amount of money in a sweepstakes but were required to pay various taxes and fees, often supported by forged documents, to claim their prize.
Lottery scams, where fraudsters impersonate officials or claim victims have won prizes and then request money or information to claim winnings, are a growing concern in the United States. According to a recent report by the Cybercrime Support Network, more than 460,000 Americans have been victims of lottery scams in the past three years, losing over $330 million.
The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations played crucial roles in dismantling the scam. They were assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Jamaican Constabulary Force, the National Intelligence Bureau, and other agencies.
The charges against the individuals include conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The maximum penalty for each of these offenses is 20 years in prison, a fine of twice the financial loss to any victim, or both.
Authorities believe that the gang used the stolen funds to maintain lavish lifestyles and further their criminal activities. Some of the money mules were unsuspecting victims who were deceived into facilitating the transfer of funds on behalf of the scammers. Others, including Byfield and Reid, willingly participated in the scheme, actively receiving and laundering stolen funds.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that U.S. consumers lost $8.8 billion to fraud and scams last year, a 30% increase over 2021. Investment scams topped the list, stealing more than $3.8 billion from consumers last year.
While there are no search results detailing indictments of seven individuals connected to lottery scams in Pittsburgh, it is recommended to check official Pittsburgh law enforcement releases or the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office for the latest prosecutorial updates on lottery scam cases.
- The indictment alleges that Jason Plummer, Troy Williams, Tajay Singh from Jamaica, Tashane Murray, Clevon McKenzie, Gyzzell Byfield, and Daneil Reid ran a lottery scam out of Jamaica, which is a type of gambling-trends that has been growing as a concern in the general-news category of crime-and-justice.
- The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, in collaboration with several other agencies, played a significant role in dismantling this lottery scam, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat fraud in casino-and-gambling and lotteries.
- The alleged lottery scam, where the individuals are accused of impersonating officials and asking for money or information to claim winnings, has reportedly netted over $2.8 million, contributing to the increasing financial losses due to fraud and scams in the United States.
- As per the latest reports by the Cybercrime Support Network, more than 460,000 Americans have fallen victim to lottery scams over the past three years, cumulatively losing over $330 million, underscoring the significance of addressing this issue in the realm of crime and justice.
