A Jamaican citizen has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud after orchestrating a lottery scam that led an elderly victim to lose more than $550,000. The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
Roshard Andrew Carty, 34, was arrested in Jamaica on August 21, 2025. He arrived in the Western District of Washington for arraignment on October 23, 2025. His sentencing before U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright is scheduled for May 14, 2026.
Court records show that Carty first contacted the 73-year-old victim from Vancouver, Washington in 2020. He claimed to be an employee of Publisher’s Clearinghouse and told the victim she had won $22 million and a car but needed to pay taxes and fees to receive her winnings. According to authorities, he also convinced the victim that their calls were being recorded by the FBI and instructed her not to share information about her supposed prize.
Between August 2020 and February 2024, Carty persuaded the victim to send over $550,000 through various money couriers across the United States who ultimately transferred the funds to him in Jamaica.
Carty’s requests for money began with small amounts sent via FedEx and increased over time. When claiming that previous payments were lost or stolen, he demanded additional funds from the victim. At one point, he instructed her to borrow against her home and later convinced her to sell it entirely in order to cover further “costs and fees” related to claiming her alleged prize.
Authorities said Carty maintained frequent contact with the victim using multiple phone numbers and texting applications—reaching out thousands of times during the course of his scheme. When communication stopped, he attempted alternative methods such as sending tow trucks or pizza deliveries and even requested a welfare check through her landlord.
Carty was indicted in November 2024 and agreed to extradition following his arrest in Jamaica last August.
The Justice Department noted that wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed not to recommend more than 41 months’ imprisonment; however, defense attorneys are free to suggest any sentence they choose. Judge Cartwright is not bound by these recommendations and may impose any sentence allowed by law.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI while Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Watts Staniar and David T. Martin are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs collaborated with Jamaican authorities for Carty’s arrest and extradition.
The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica maintains a resource page about lottery scams originating from that country (https://jm.usembassy.gov/lottery-scams/). Officials warn individuals never to pay fees upfront for prizes as such requests indicate fraudulent activity.
