Jamaican pleads guilty in US$9 million sweepstakes fraud targeting elderly Americans

A Jamaican man recently pleaded guilty for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than US$9 million from over 200 elderly Americans in a decade-long sweepstakes fraud scheme, United States federal prosecutors announced.

Thirty-year-old Jordan Trought entered a guilty plea on June 1 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud. Trought was arrested in Jamaica in August 2025 and extradited to the United States to face charges.

He faces up to 30 years in prison, and has agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, each in the amount of US$6,166,227.

According to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Trought was a senior member of a Jamaica-based fraud ring that targeted elderly victims across the United States between 2015 and 2025.

He joined the ring in 2021 and became one of its leaders. He was held responsible for more than US$6 million stolen from more than 100 victims from March 2021 through to his arrest in 2025.

Prosecutors said victims typically received an unsolicited phone call or text claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car from a well-known marketing and sweepstakes company, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.

The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings.

Victims were also instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, and cash, as well as by wire, Zelle, and Venmo transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller.

Prosecutors said Trought and his co-conspirators also gained control of some victims’ bank accounts, which they used to transfer money out of and through those accounts. Victims’ funds were ultimately transferred to associates of Trought and his co-conspirators, as well as to an automobile business operated by Trought in Jamaica.

“Trought and his co-conspirators allegedly exploited trust, age, and hope for profit, including by taking control of victims’ bank accounts and routing stolen money to Jamaica,” US Attorney Jay Clayton said.

He said the plea reflected his office’s commitment to protecting vulnerable victims, pursuing fraudsters across borders, and holding accountable those who steal from Americans.

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