Sean P. Costello U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama
Xavian Brown, a Jamaican-born resident of Baldwin County, Alabama, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in defrauding elderly victims through a Publishers Clearing House scam. According to court documents, Brown and his co-defendants contacted more than 130 people across the United States, falsely telling them they had won lottery or sweepstakes prizes. Victims were told they needed to pay taxes in advance to claim their winnings. Testimony during sentencing revealed that many victims lost their life savings as a result of the scheme.
United States District Judge Kristi DuBose ordered Brown to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. A hearing is scheduled for early December to determine how much restitution Brown will owe the victims.
Other defendants in the case received sentences ranging from time served to just over one year in prison, along with orders to pay restitution amounts exceeding $440,000 each. Additional co-defendants are expected to be sentenced in December 2025.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello. “Exploiting Americans through this type of scheme is a cruel and calculated crime, aimed at a vulnerable community. Protecting Americans from financial exploitation is one of our top priorities. This sentence demonstrates that those who abuse trust for personal gain will be held accountable.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Sara Jones stated: “The FBI is committed to investigating those who exploit the American people for financial gain and seeing through the prosecution of those individuals. The hard work of our agents and professional staff, along with a dedicated United States Attorney’s Office, assures that these criminals will not go unpunished for their actions. Today’s sentence is another example of our collective efforts to combat criminal activity in the Gulf Coast Region in conjunction with our partner agencies.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Mobile Division led the investigation, with support from local law enforcement agencies including the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Foley Police Department, and Gulf Shores Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasee Heisterhagen and Mike Anderson prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
For additional information on elder fraud scams and prevention resources, visit https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/elder-fraud.
