Jamaican man faces 160 years in US prison for defrauding California woman

A Jamaican man has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges of wire fraud in connection with a long-running scheme to con a California woman out of thousands of dollars.

Dwayne Anderson, 35, of Hanover, Jamaica, made his initial appearance in court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Monday following his extradition. Anderson was arrested by Jamaican authorities on July 11 at the request of the U.S. government and remained in custody in Jamaica until his transfer to the U.S. on August 22.

According to the indictment, Anderson participated in a fraudulent scheme from 2010 to September 2017, targeting an American woman. Using false names, Anderson contacted the victim by phone, text message, and email, falsely claiming that she had won millions of dollars in a lottery. He convinced her to send money to cover various fees and taxes associated with the alleged prize. Anderson continued to demand additional payments, promising that her winnings would be released once the payments were made.

In September 2017, Anderson allegedly lured the victim to Jamaica under the pretense that she could collect her winnings. He instructed her to bring $1,600 in cash, which she handed to a driver at the airport, as Anderson had instructed. Despite making the payment, the victim never received any prize money.

“The Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division is committed to bringing to justice transnational criminals who defraud Americans, wherever they may be,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. He thanked the Jamaican government for its assistance in Anderson’s extradition.

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U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota condemned Anderson’s actions, stating: “Making a living by exploiting the trust of Americans and draining their hard-earned savings is despicable. The District of South Dakota will prosecute and prosecute anyone who engages in criminal acts that harm Americans.”

Eric Shen, Inspector of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group, stressed the importance of international cooperation in protecting Americans from transnational crime. He acknowledged the critical assistance provided by the Jamaica Constabulary Force in bringing Anderson to justice.

Anderson faces eight counts of wire fraud in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison on each count.

The USPIS led the investigation, with significant assistance from the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated the extradition. The case is being prosecuted by trial attorneys Brandon Robers and Edward Emokpae of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Hoffman for the District of South Dakota.

The Justice Department says its investigation into similar fraud schemes targeting U.S. citizens continues.