A Florida man, Morice Armani Brown, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for his part in a fraud scheme that targeted an elderly woman from Lenoir City, Tennessee. Brown, 24, originally from Jamaica, will also spend an additional year under supervised release and must repay nearly $700,000 to his victim, as ordered by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
The Scam: A Deceptive Lottery Win
The fraudulent activities began in September 2021 when Lenoir City police launched an investigation after reports surfaced about a scam involving Brown and his accomplices. They deceived the elderly victim into believing she had won the “Golden Casket International Sweepstakes.” To make their scheme seem real, they mailed her a notification of her winnings, which included two checks—one for $3 million and another for $200,000.
In a further attempt to convince the victim, the scammers sent her a letter that appeared to be from the IRS. This letter, which bore the official IRS logo and the U.S. Presidential seal, detailed the taxes she would owe on her supposed winnings. Brown and his team tricked the victim into thinking she had to pay $672,000 in various fees and taxes to two individuals they referred to as “Richard” and “Lucky Graham.”
Police Operation to Catch the Scammers
As the scam progressed, Lenoir City police became aware of the situation and devised a plan to catch the criminals in the act. On October 22, 2021, officers set up surveillance at a Walmart parking lot where the victim was supposed to make another payment to her scammers.
Undercover officers observed a Toyota RAV4 moving slowly through the parking lot when the victim received a phone call from “Richard,” asking to change the meeting location. Sensing something was off, the victim refused the request, explaining she did not have a GPS to navigate to a new spot.
As a young man approached the victim’s car to collect the money, police intervened. However, the suspect fled in a Nissan Altima. The RAV4, which carried two men, attempted to escape as well, but a bystander blocked their path with a large pickup truck, allowing law enforcement to arrest them.
Court Proceedings and Sentences
During their trial, the defendants argued against the evidence obtained from the RAV4, claiming that police had no probable cause for their arrests. However, the court denied these motions, leading to the sentencing of several co-conspirators. Along with Brown, Marklyn Antonio Forrester also received a 63-month prison sentence, while Jamail Jermain Ramsay was sentenced to 36 months. Jahmarley Kuboki McFarlane received a sentence of 57 months. The fifth co-conspirator, Tessa Nicole Hines, whose name was registered to the Toyota RAV4, is set to be sentenced in October 2024.
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Preventing Lottery Scams
Lottery scams, like the one involving Brown, are unfortunately common, and they often prey on vulnerable individuals. Scammers use various tactics to make their schemes appear legitimate, including using logos from reputable organizations and calling from seemingly official numbers.
Experts advise people to be cautious and remember that legitimate lotteries will never ask for money upfront to claim a prize, whether for taxes or other fees. Additionally, it’s crucial not to share personal information, such as bank details or passwords, with anyone claiming that you have won a lottery.
If you or someone you know falls victim to a lottery scam, you can report the incident to your state’s Attorney General or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.