US Court Convicts Jamaican Involved In Lottery Scam

BISMARCK, North Dakota, CMC – A court in the United States, on Thursday convicted Sanjay Williams, 25, a Jamaican, for his role in a Jamaican lottery scam.

Williams who was found guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, could face up to 40 years in prison.

Investigators described Williams as a “lead broker” who bought and sold “sucker lists” of potential victims.

Williams was arrested in North Carolina where prosecutors say he had associates in the scam. They say about a dozen defendants are awaiting extradition from Jamaica.

The prosecutors say the case came to light, four years ago, when an 86-year-old woman, Edna Schmeets, of North Dakota, received a call from a man who told her she had won US$10 million and a new car and only needed to pay taxes and fees. The woman’s savings were eventually wiped out.

The jurors were told that investigators reviewed more than 500,000 documents, including 50,000 emails, many of which linked the scam to Williams.