Jamaican man faces wire fraud charges in the US

A Jamaican man who was extradited to South Dakota and made his initial court appearance today in Sioux Falls, is facing fraud charges for his alleged role in a long-running sweepstakes scheme.

Dwayne Anderson, 35, of Hanover, Jamaica, was arrested, pursuant to the US request for extradition, on July 11, by Jamaican authorities.  

According to the indictment, from as early as 2010 until September 2017, Anderson participated in a scheme to defraud a California woman. Anderson allegedly persuaded the victim to send money to pay various fees and taxes associated with a sweepstakes that she won. 

The US authorities say Anderson convinced the victim to travel to Jamaica in September 2017 by falsely informing her that she would be able to collect her prize winnings. They say he told the victim to bring $1,600 in cash with her to Jamaica and give the money to a driver that met her at the airport.

The victim paid the purported fees but never received any of her purported winnings.

Anderson is charged with eight counts of wire fraud filed in the US District Court. If convicted, Anderson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

“Collaboration between international law enforcement partners is critical to protecting the international rule of law and the US Mailstream,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the US Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group.

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