A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh recently indicted four individuals involved in a large scam targeting elderly victims across the United States. This indictment is part of an ongoing investigation into a massive international lottery scam that led to over $4.5 million being stolen from vulnerable individuals. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced the charges, marking the latest development in efforts to combat fraud against older adults.
The Deceptive Lottery Scam
The four defendants indicted in this case are Yonel Burnett, 28, of Jamaica, and three co-conspirators: Omar McKenzie, 34, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida; Shemeca Shields, 29, of East Hartford, Connecticut; and Nicole Lamont, 30, of Eastham, Massachusetts. Each individual faces charges related to conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, and mail fraud.
The fraud scheme they were involved in targeted elderly victims, tricking them into believing they had won a multi-million-dollar sweepstakes. The conspirators convinced the victims that, in order to claim their prize money, they first needed to pay taxes and fees. To make the scam appear more legitimate, the fraudsters provided fake documents, some even bearing forged seals from government agencies. These fraudulent documents convinced the victims that they had indeed won a large sum of money, but only if they followed the instructions to send payment for taxes and fees.
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The victims were directed to send money through cash, checks, and money orders to people chosen by the conspirators. Some of these individuals had already fallen victim to the same scam and were coerced into helping move money for the criminals. Others, including McKenzie, Lamont, and Shields, actively participated in the scam by receiving and laundering the stolen funds.
A Large-Scale Money Laundering Operation
After receiving the victims’ money, the conspirators did not directly take possession of it. Instead, they laundered the stolen funds through a complex network of bank accounts and individuals called “money mules.” These mules moved the money around, which made it harder for law enforcement to trace the stolen funds. After the money was laundered, it was withdrawn by members of the conspiracy who were living in Jamaica.
This case is connected to earlier indictments from December 2023, which named seven other individuals involved in the same fraudulent scheme. Some of these co-conspirators were even extradited from Jamaica to face charges in the United States. The fraud operation spanned across different states and involved multiple people working together to deceive elderly victims out of their money.
The indictment of Burnett, McKenzie, Lamont, and Shields shows just how widespread and organized this scam was. The scheme’s complexity made it difficult to unravel, but the combined efforts of law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations ultimately led to these charges.
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Serious Legal Consequences
The charges against the four defendants are very serious. If convicted, each defendant could face up to 20 years in prison. The sentence could vary depending on the severity of the crimes and any prior criminal history. In addition to possible prison time, the defendants may also face fines that could be as high as twice the amount of money stolen from the victims.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is handling the prosecution on behalf of the government. The indictment of these individuals is part of a broader effort to protect vulnerable adults from fraud and financial exploitation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania has been at the forefront of investigating and prosecuting these types of crimes, which specifically target older adults who may be more trusting or easily deceived.
This case serves as a reminder of the lengths to which scammers will go to exploit vulnerable people. The fraudsters behind this scheme took advantage of the trust and naivety of their victims, causing them financial hardship and emotional distress. While the stolen money may never be fully recovered, the indictment of these individuals marks an important step toward holding them accountable for their actions.
