Baltimore, Maryland - A Landover Hills, Maryland, man pled guilty to fraud charges in federal court, in connection with a lottery fraud scheme.

Wayne Henry, 36, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Maryland; Acting Assistant Inspector for Investigations General 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, between October 2020, and February 2024, Henry conspired with others to use the mail to obtain money from victims across the United States through a lottery fraud scheme. Many victims impacted by the scheme are elderly. Henry also used the personal identifying information of an individual to pay for postage for lottery solicitations to another victim.

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.

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. A sentencing date for Henry is forthcoming.

Co-conspirators Nickoy Campbell, 30, and Tavoy Farquharson, 34, who are both Jamaican nationals, along with Wayne's brother, Dwayne Henry, 34, of Landover Hills, Maryland, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Campbell, Farquharson, and Dwayne Henry all face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing for Campbell and Dwayne Henry is scheduled for Monday, March 2, and sentencing for Farquharson is scheduled for Monday, March 23.

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.. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, HSI Maryland, the 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 www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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