Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, has admitted in a U.S. court that he took part in a sweeping fraud scheme that lasted for years. Anderson was extradited from Jamaica to the United States in 2024 after being arrested by Jamaican authorities based on a U.S. indictment. Since then, he has been held in custody while facing federal charges.
According to court documents, the scheme began as early as 2010 and continued until 2017. Anderson pretended to be someone else by using fake names. He contacted an American woman by phone calls, emails, and text messages. During these conversations, he told her she had won millions of dollars in a lottery-style sweepstakes.
But there was a catch. Anderson claimed that before she could collect the prize, she needed to pay fees and taxes. Trusting his lies, the victim followed his instructions and sent payments over several years. These payments were sent to different people as he directed, always with the promise that her winnings were just around the corner.
The victim never received any money. Instead, she lost more than $181,000 in the process. The scheme left her without the promised prize and with a large financial loss.
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Arrest, Extradition, and Court Proceedings
Anderson’s arrest in July 2024 in Jamaica came after a U.S. indictment was issued. His extradition to the United States was carried out in August 2024, allowing him to face federal wire fraud charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.
In court, Anderson pleaded guilty to the charges, admitting to lying to the victim, tricking her into sending money, and running the scheme for nearly seven years. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Director J. Matt Williams, Senior Trial Attorney Brandon Robers, and Trial Attorney Edward E. Emokpae of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Consumer Protection Branch, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Hoffman for the District of South Dakota.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Jamaican officials to ensure Anderson’s arrest and extradition.
Officials Speak Out on the Case
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said the case shows the department’s commitment to protecting Americans from international criminals. “Dwayne Anderson is the latest example in the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat these kinds of foreign-based schemes and hold those involved accountable,” he said.
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U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell of the District of South Dakota stressed the growing danger of fraud schemes targeting Americans. She said, “Whether it happens in a rural community or a metropolitan area, the Department of Justice will ensure these criminals are held to account for their shameless targeting of vulnerable individuals and their hard-earned savings.”
Eric Shen, Inspector in Charge of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group, also highlighted the nationwide reach of the investigation. “If you target vulnerable Americans with schemes designed to steal their hard-earned money, you will become our target. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service knows no boundaries when it comes to protecting our communities,” he said.
The case highlights the dangers of scams carried out through phone calls, emails, and texts. Officials continue to warn the public to be cautious and to never send money to claim supposed prizes. In this case, the victim lost more than $181,000 and never received any prize money, highlighting the serious consequences of such schemes.