Jamaican national sentenced to 42 months in prison for Maryland lottery fraud scheme

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A Jamaican national will spend more than three years in federal prison after authorities said he helped run a lottery fraud scheme that targeted victims across the United States, including elderly people, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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. Hurson also ordered Campbell to pay $3,074,765.28 in restitution.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence.

Prosecutors said Campbell and his co-conspirators ran the scheme from September 2022 through February 2024, telling victims they had won lottery or sweepstakes prizes but needed to pay taxes or fees upfront to claim them. Victims never received any winnings. Authorities said more than 10 victims lost money, some losing most of their life savings. In total, losses exceeded $3 million, and Campbell received more than $500,000.

Three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Officials urged people to report fraud and fraud attempts, particularly those targeting older adults. Anyone age 60 or older who has been a victim of financial fraud can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).

The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with English, Spanish and other languages available. More information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative is available at www.elderjustice.gov.

People with information about criminal activity can contact ICE’s Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or submit a tip online.

More information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and resources to report fraud is available at justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.