Jamaican Nationals Charged with Running Sweepstakes Scheme that Targeted Elderly Victims Across the U.S.

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and J. Buck Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that the following six individuals have been charged with federal fraud and money laundering offenses stemming from their alleged participation in a sweepstakes scam that defrauded primarily elderly victims across the country of millions of dollars:

ANDRE-JON GAYLE, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
AALIYAH MAYNE, 25, of Dania, Florida
ONAJE CHEVERS, 29, of Dania, Florida
MATTHEW HUTCHINSON, 24, of Williamsburg, Virginia,
COURTNEY REYNOLDS, 31, of Miami, Florida
ROSHAUN THOMPSON, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Gayle, Mayne, Chevers, Hutchinson, and Reynolds are citizens of Jamaica. Thompson is a U.S. citizen.

The indictment alleges that, beginning in approximately 2022, the defendants participated in a "Publishers Clearing House scam." As part of the scheme, the defendants and others purchased lists of names of elderly individuals located in Connecticut and throughout the U.S. Claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House, they then contacted individuals on the lists and informed them that they won millions of dollars in the Publisher Clearing House sweepstakes. Victims were told that to claim their prize they had to pay upfront fees or taxes and were directed to send checks, cash, and money orders to the defendants and others. At times, victims were told to send money to other victims of the scheme who believed that, as part of a "sponsor program," the money was coming from previous winners who were "sponsoring" them by helping to pay their taxes and fees. The "sponsored" victims were then directed to send the money they received on to other victims, the defendants, and their associates.

The indictment further alleges that certain victims also provided scheme participants with their driver's license, other personal identifying information, and banking and credit card information, which scheme participants used to make personal expenditures. Scheme participants also diverted victims' social security benefits into Green Dot banking accounts that scheme participants opened and controlled.

On June 2, 2026, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging each of the six defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each of these offenses carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Mayne, Chevers, and Reynolds were arrested on June 4, Thompson was arrested on June 5, Hutchinson was arrested on June 9, and Gayle was arrested on June 10.

Gayle, Hutchinson, Reynolds, and Thompson appeared today in Bridgeport federal court, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and were released on $ 250,000 bonds. Mayne and Chevers are currently detained.

"As alleged, this was an organized sweepstakes scam that ruthlessly preyed upon the vulnerability of our elderly citizens to defraud them out of millions of dollars," said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. "Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners, we have dismantled this illicit operation and will hold those responsible accountable for their actions. It is crucial for the public to know that legitimate sweepstakes winners will never need to pay upfront fees or taxes in order to claim a prize. Anyone who demands money to release a lottery or sweepstakes payout is a fraudster, plain and simple."

"The indictment of these six individuals demonstrates IRS-CI's ongoing commitment to investigate all those that prey upon the American public," said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. "These individuals attempted to not only steal the life savings of the elderly to enrich themselves but took it a step further by siphoning off their Social Security benefits, a financial safety net that many older Americans depend on to survive. IRS-CI is committed to our continued cooperation with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify any and all individuals that victimize the nation's elderly population."

"These charges demonstrate our unwavering commitment to holding fraudsters accountable," said Acting Inspector in Charge J. Buck Buckley. "Exploiting vulnerable communities through these schemes is a cruel crime, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively investigate operations that target vulnerable citizens for personal gain. We are deeply grateful to our law enforcement partners and prosecutors whose dedication and teamwork made these charges possible."

U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the West Saint Paul (Minn.) Police Department, and the Southborough (Mass.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.