Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
A Bronx resident has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for her role in a sweepstakes fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the United States, resulting in losses exceeding $1.6 million. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton.
Ricki Rickaline Gibbs pleaded guilty in September 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. She was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.
“Fraudsters who prey on our most vulnerable must be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s sentence reinforces that message.”
According to court documents and public statements, from at least 2019 through at least 2023, Gibbs and her co-conspirators carried out a scheme that defrauded more than 20 elderly individuals nationwide of over $1.6 million. Victims were contacted by phone or text from individuals using common names and told they had won substantial prizes but needed to pay taxes or fees first. After initial payments were made, victims were told additional payments were necessary before receiving their supposed winnings.
The perpetrators instructed victims to send money through various means including checks, money orders, gift cards, cash concealed in books, wire transfers, and Zelle transfers. In addition to the sweepstakes ruse, romance scam tactics were used to persuade victims to continue making payments.
Of the total amount lost by victims, at least $1,379,402 was directed to accounts belonging to or controlled by Gibbs. Authorities stated that Gibbs is a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States and participated in the scheme from both locations alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica. Proceeds from the fraud funded a clothing business started by Gibbs called “Fairy’s Crown” as well as numerous luxury purchases.
After being arrested, Gibbs met with federal law enforcement officers twice and denied involvement in the scheme, claiming instead that she was herself a victim who had received calls about winning an $8.5 million prize and was instructed to pay taxes for it. She also falsely claimed that funds received from actual victims were provided by sponsors assisting her with those tax payments.
In addition to imprisonment, Gibbs was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture totaling $1,018,703 as well as restitution amounting to $1,379,402.
U.S. Attorney Clayton commended the investigative work of Special Agents from his office and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Division and thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office for their assistance.
The case was managed by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander and Margaret Vasu overseeing prosecution.
