Five Charged in $3.5M Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina has unsealed an indictment charging five individuals for their roles in a fraud and money laundering scheme that resulted in a cumulative loss of at least $3.5 million.

The following have been charged for their roles in the scheme:

Xavier Gordon, 25, of Charleston;

Warner Gordon, 27, of Charleston;

Kevin Milton Simpson, 30, of Charleston;

Tashagae Narcia Leslie, 25, of Orlando, Florida; and

Kemar Christopher Edwards, 28, of Charleston.

The indictment alleges that the defendants engaged in a scheme to deceive individuals by convincing them that they were the winners of cash prizes from sweepstakes. The defendants would then claim that before the victims could receive their winnings, they had to pay taxes and fees. Believing they had won, the victims transferred money to the defendants either through the mail or by wire transfer. After receiving the money, the defendants are alleged to have laundered the funds and then transferred a portion of the proceeds to individuals located in Jamaica. The indictment alleges that the victims lost more than $3.5 million through the scheme, and that a substantial portion of the more than 100 victims were elderly.

Xavier Gordon is charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; multiple counts of mail fraud; wire fraud; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Xavier Gordon faces a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years.

Warner Gordon is charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; mail fraud; multiple counts of wire fraud; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Warner Gordon faces a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years.

Kevin Milton Simpson is charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Simpson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years.

Tashagae Narcia Leslie is charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Leslie faces a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years.

Kemar Christopher Edwards is charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Edwards faces a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Sowards is prosecuting the case.

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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