Jamaican National Sentenced for Role in Lottery Fraud Scheme

Baltimore, Maryland - A Jamaican national is headed to federal prison in connection with a lottery fraud scheme.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Nickoy Campbell, 30, to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Judge Hurson also ordered him to pay $3,074,765.28 in restitution.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Maryland; Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Javan S. Wilson, U.S. Treasury, Office of Inspector General (Treasury OIG); and Chief George Nader, Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD).

According to public filings, beginning in September 2022, and continuing through February 2024, Campbell conspired with others to use the mail to obtain money from victims across the United States. Many victims impacted by the scheme were elderly.

Perpetrators use a lottery fraud scheme to lead victims to believe they won a large cash prize through a lottery or sweepstakes. When it's time to collect the purported winnings, the victim is falsely led to believe that they must pay taxes or other fees in advance. The victim never receives their winnings, but instead, loses their advanced fees or payments.

In this case, Campbell and his co-conspirators solicited victims and led them to believe that they won a lottery or sweepstakes. Then they misled the victims to think that they were required to pay taxes and other fees in advance to Campbell and his co-conspirators' attention. The conspiracy caused more than 10 victims to lose money in purported taxes and fees and to lose their winnings. Some victims of the scheme lost most of their life savings. In total, the court found that the victims lost more than $3 million, with Campbell receiving more than $500,000 of the victims' funds.

Co-conspirators Tavoy Farquharson, 34, a Jamaican national, and brothers Wayne Henry, 36, and Dwayne Henry, 34, both of Landover Hills, Maryland, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Farquharson and Dwayne Henry both face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing for Dwayne Henry is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, and Farquharson's sentencing is slated for Monday, March 23.

Wayne Henry faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory sentence of two years consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing for Wayne Henry is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2.

Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement's efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older, and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available. Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers through assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. Learn more about the Department's Elder Justice Initiative at www.elderjustice.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.. If you have information about criminal activity in your community should contact ICE's Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or submit a tip onlineLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, HSI, Treasury OIG, and PGPD for their investigative efforts. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Motsay who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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