Long Island Man Pleads Guilty To Role In Mail Fraud Scheme

WESTBURY, NY — A Long Island man pleaded guilty today for his role in a years-long mailing scheme that defrauded people, often elderly residents, out of their money.

Carmine Maietta, 74, of Westbury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud as part of a mass-mailing scheme that tricked people into paying fees for false cash prizes.

“With today’s guilty plea, Maietta admits to deceiving elderly and other vulnerable victims into believing they had won cash prizes when, in reality, he was simply pocketing their hard-earned funds,” said United States Attorney Breon Peace. “This office is committed to protecting the vulnerable from the financial harm caused by fraudulent mail solicitation schemes.”

According to Peace, from 2013 through 2018, Maietta took part in a direct-mail scheme that sent fake prize notifications to thousands of people. The mailers told people to pay a fee in return for a large cash prize. No one who sent a fee ever received a prize.

Four other people had previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. They each face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.

“Sweepstakes and other frauds are extremely damaging to those who fall victim to a scammers’ pitch of trickery and lies," said Daniel Brubacker, inspector-in-charge for the United States Postal Inspection Service. "These fraudulent schemes by design are nothing more than lies written on paper. Postal Inspectors will always vigorously pursue individuals who prey on the public, bringing them to justice for their criminal activity.”