A Jamaican citizen, Richard Murray, 31, has been charged in connection with a sweepstakes scam that allegedly targeted elderly individuals across the United States and resulted in millions of dollars in losses. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
According to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in New Haven on April 16, 2024, Murray and others operated the scheme since at least 2018. Victims were typically contacted by phone and falsely told they had won a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. To claim their supposed winnings, victims were instructed to pay fees and taxes.
After initial contact, Murray and his associates mailed fraudulent documents to victims. These included fake "winning notification" letters from Publishers Clearing House and fabricated correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service asserting that tax payments were legally required before receiving prizes. Victims sent payments via cash, money orders or checks through the mail to addresses in Connecticut and other states.
The indictment further alleges that Murray's group used a network of "money mules"—individuals who received funds from victims and then transferred them to members of the conspiracy. Some money mules were themselves deceived victims who had been manipulated into forwarding money on behalf of the group. The scheme also involved recruiting people to provide accounts for laundering money; funds obtained from victims moved through multiple accounts under different company names. ATM cards linked to U.S. bank accounts were given to co-conspirators in Jamaica so they could withdraw proceeds from the scam.
Murray was arrested on January 22, 2026, in Hampton, Georgia. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven where he pleaded not guilty and remains detained since his arrest.
The charges against Murray include one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; each charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
"An indictment is not evidence of guilt," said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. "Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
The investigation is being led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with support from U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Forces in Connecticut and Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry is prosecuting the case.
