On March 31, 2025, a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania indicted four individuals for stealing over $4.5 million from elderly and vulnerable victims through a PCH scam, where:
- The scammers call their victims to falsely claim they won a sweepstakes and often reinforce said claims with forged documents that bore the seals of government agencies.
- The victims will be asked to pay “certain taxes and fees” to claim their nonexistent prize, and the payment must be made in cash, checks and money orders to designated money mules.
- The money will be laundered through a series of bank accounts and money mules before being withdrawn by the Jamaican kingpins.
The scammers indicted are:
- Yonel Burnett, a 28-year-old Jamaican conspirator.
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- Arrested in Florida on March 14, 2025.
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- Charged with the conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
- Omar McKenzie, a 34-year-old money mule from Lauderdale Lakes, Florida.
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- Arrested in Florida on March 27, 2025.
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- Charged with the conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- Shemeca Shields, a 29-year-old money mule from East Hartford, Connecticut.
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- Arrested in Connecticut on March 26, 2025.
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- Charged with the conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- Nicole Lamont, a 30-year-old from Eastham, Massachusetts.
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- Arrested in Massachusetts on March 23, 2025.
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- Charged with the conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The arrests and indictments are tied to a 2023 indictment against seven co-conspirators, 3 of which being extradited from Jamaica.