Summary
A Jamaican resident Jason Plummer has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court for his role in an international lottery scam that targeted elderly victims. Authorities said victims were falsely told they had won large sweepstakes prizes and were then instructed to send money to cover fake taxes and fees. The case also involved a money laundering conspiracy connected to the fraudulent operation.
Key Points
- Victims were falsely informed they had won sweepstakes prizes.
- Payments were requested for fake taxes and fees.
- Funds were sent through checks, cash, money orders, and wire transfers.
- Jason Plummer admitted participating in the conspiracy.
- He remains in custody pending sentencing.
How the Lottery Scam Operated
According to federal prosecutors, Jason Plummer, a resident of Montego Bay, Jamaica, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
Authorities said the case involved a lottery scam that targeted elderly victims in the United States. Victims received telephone calls informing them that they had supposedly won large sweepstakes prizes, sometimes worth millions of dollars.
The callers told victims they first needed to pay taxes, processing fees, or other charges before receiving their winnings. These claims were false. The victims had not won any prizes, and the payments were simply part of a fraud scheme.
Investigators said victims were directed to send money using various methods, including checks, cash, money orders, and wire transfers. After the money was sent, the promised winnings never arrived.
Court documents stated that Plummer communicated directly with victims about their supposed winnings. He also communicated with other individuals involved in the broader scam operation.
Authorities further said that Plummer maintained records containing personally identifiable information belonging to victims. Such information can include names and other personal details used to identify individuals.
The defendant also received money connected to the lottery scam from other members of the conspiracy, according to prosecutors.
Investigation and Court Proceedings
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Law enforcement agencies worked together with Jamaican authorities during the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also assisted in securing the arrest and extradition of Plummer to the United States.
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Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
Following the guilty plea, Judge Robert J. Colville scheduled sentencing for October 13, 2026. The court ordered that Plummer remain in detention while awaiting sentencing.
Federal law provides significant penalties for the charges involved in the case. The conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The conspiracy to commit money laundering charge also carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to possible prison terms, substantial financial penalties may be imposed. However, the final sentence will be determined by the court after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other factors, including the nature of the offenses and any prior criminal history.
The guilty plea represents a major development in an international fraud investigation involving a lottery scam that authorities said specifically targeted elderly victims through false promises of large cash prizes and sweepstakes winnings.