CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Zicko Peterkin, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, was sentenced today to 38 months incarceration for operating a lottery scam to defraud American citizens, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Peterkin, age 34, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud" in April 2018. As a part of that conspiracy, Peterkin and others made unsolicited phone calls and emails to hundreds of residents in the United States, making false claims that the recipients had won a multi-million dollar lottery prize and a Mercedes Benz vehicle. Peterkin and co-conspirators told victims that, to receive these prizes, they had to send money to cover “processing fees." Peterkin also sent images of forged cashier’s checks to the recipients, showing the intended target as the payee of the check. In response, victims wired at least $250,000 to Peterkin and his co-conspirators. The crime occurred from September 2008 to July 2011 in the Northern District of West Virginia and other locations across the country.
Peterkin was also ordered to pay $257,978 in restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for the Tax Administration.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys