Man Indicted In Scam Which Bilked CT Woman Out Of $75K: Feds

CONNECTICUT — A Georgia resident is accused of operating a sweepstakes scam to con money out of residents in multiple states, including Connecticut.

A federal grand jury in New Haven recently returned an indictment against Jimmy Smith, 30, a Jamaican citizen.

A Connecticut victim was told via telephone in July 2022 that she had won a $2.5 million sweepstakes prize and needed to pay taxes to claim her winnings, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The woman mailed a $75,000 check in August 2022, prosecutors said.

Marc H. Silverman, acting U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, said Smith was arrested in Florida on March 17.

Smith is due to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in New Haven on April 4. He is currently in home detention and subject to electronic monitoring.

According to the indictment, Smith and co-conspirators defrauded at least four people. In addition to the Connecticut victim, prosecutors said they have identified victims in New York, Texas and California.

All of the victims were contacted by telephone and told they had won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and needed to pay taxes or money to claim their prize, prosecutors said.

Smith recruited others to use their bank accounts to deposit money mailed by scam victims, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. Smith’s co-conspirators then withdrew cash and gave it to Smith, or sent Smith money using bank transfer applications, according to the government.

Smith is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conduct illegal monetary transactions.