Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A Jamaican citizen has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to a long-running fraud scheme targeting a California woman. Dwayne Anderson, 35, of Hannover, Jamaica, entered his plea on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.
Anderson was arrested by Jamaican authorities on July 11, 2024, following a U.S. indictment and was extradited to the United States in August 2024. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
According to court documents and Anderson’s plea agreement, he participated in a scheme from at least 2010 until September 2017. Anderson used false identities to contact the victim through phone calls, text messages, and emails. He told her she had won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes and convinced her to send money for supposed fees and taxes associated with the winnings. The victim followed his instructions on how and where to send payments but never received any prize money. In total, she lost more than $181,000.
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting Americans from the threats posed by transnational criminals and will vigorously pursue them, wherever they are located,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Anderson is the latest example in the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat these kinds of foreign based schemes and hold those involved accountable.”
“Americans are increasingly falling victim to devastating fraud schemes perpetrated by transnational criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota. “Whether it happens in a rural community or a metropolitan area, the Department of Justice will ensure these criminals are held to account for their shameless targeting of vulnerable individuals and their hard-earned savings.”
“If you target vulnerable Americans with schemes designed to steal their hard-earned money, you will become our target,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service knows no boundaries when it comes to protecting our communities. We will find you, we will stop you, and we will hold you accountable.”
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from law enforcement partners in Jamaica who helped secure Anderson's arrest and extradition.
Prosecution is being handled by Assistant Director J. Matt Williams, Senior Trial Attorney Brandon Robers, Trial Attorney Edward E. Emokpae from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Hoffman for South Dakota.
Victims aged 60 or older who have experienced financial fraud can seek help through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline provides support seven days a week between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., offering services in English, Spanish, and other languages.
Further information about consumer protection efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch; details about elder justice initiatives are available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice; additional resources regarding federal prosecution activities can be accessed via www.justice.gov/usao-sd.
