Jamaican National Pleads Guilty in International Lottery Scam That Targeted Elderly Victims

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A Jamaican national has pleaded guilty in federal court for his role in an international lottery fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims and generated illicit proceeds through fraudulent claims of sweepstakes winnings and subsequent money laundering activities.

U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti announced that Jason Plummer, 33, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to federal prosecutors, Plummer participated in a long-running lottery scam that targeted elderly victims by falsely informing them they had won large cash prizes, often purportedly worth millions of dollars.

Investigators stated victims were contacted by telephone and instructed to send money through checks, cash payments, money orders, and wire transfers to cover supposed taxes, fees, or administrative costs allegedly required before their winnings could be released.

Federal authorities explained that no legitimate winnings existed and that the payments were part of a fraudulent scheme designed to exploit victims, many of whom were senior citizens.

According to court records, Plummer communicated directly with victims regarding their purported lottery winnings and also coordinated with co-conspirators involved in the broader fraud operation.

Investigators further determined that Plummer maintained records containing personally identifiable information belonging to victims and received proceeds generated by the scheme from other members of the conspiracy.

Lottery scams continue to rank among the most common forms of elder-targeted fraud investigated by federal law enforcement agencies. Criminal organizations frequently target older adults due to perceived financial stability, trust in authority figures, and increased vulnerability to sophisticated deception tactics.

Federal investigators have repeatedly warned that legitimate lotteries, sweepstakes, and prize organizations do not require winners to pay taxes, fees, insurance costs, processing charges, or other upfront expenses before receiving winnings.

Authorities also continue warning that transnational fraud organizations often operate across multiple countries, making international cooperation critical to identifying suspects, securing arrests, and pursuing extradition proceedings.

Plummer’s case involved coordination between United States and Jamaican authorities, highlighting the growing emphasis on international partnerships used to combat cross-border fraud schemes that target American victims.

Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for October 13, 2026.

Federal law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The final sentence will be determined by the court after consideration of federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Plummer remains detained pending sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from Jamaican authorities and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting the case.

Because Plummer has entered a guilty plea in federal court, the allegations resulted in a criminal conviction pending formal sentencing proceedings.

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