Anthony Henry / Contributor

A 34-year-old Jamaican man has pleaded guilty in the United States to operating a lottery scam that defrauded an elderly woman of more than US$550,000.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Roshard Andrew Carty entered a guilty plea in US District Court in Tacoma to one count of wire fraud in connection with the scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14.

Prosecutors say Carty first contacted the 73-year-old victim from Vancouver, Washington, in 2020, posing as an employee of Publishers Clearing House. He falsely told the woman she had won US$22 million and a car but needed to pay taxes and fees upfront to access the prize.

Court records reveal that Carty convinced the woman the FBI was recording their calls and warned her not to tell anyone about the supposed winnings. Between August 2020 and February 2024, he directed her to send money through various couriers in the United States. The funds were ultimately transferred to him in Jamaica.

Authorities say the payments began as small withdrawals mailed via FedEx but escalated over time. Carty allegedly told the victim the funds were lost or stolen and demanded additional payments. He instructed her to borrow against her home and eventually persuaded her to sell the property to cover additional “costs and fees.”

In total, more than US$550,000 was sent to money couriers before being funnelled to Carty.

Investigators say Carty was relentless, contacting the woman thousands of times through various phone numbers and messaging platforms. When she attempted to cut off communication, he reportedly sent tow trucks and pizza deliveries to her residence and even contacted her landlord to request a welfare check in an effort to re-establish contact.

Carty was indicted in November 2024. He was arrested in Jamaica on August 21, 2025, and later consented to extradition to the United States. He arrived in the Western District of Washington for arraignment on October 23, 2025.

Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of no more than 41 months, though the court is not bound by that recommendation.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Government of Jamaica. 

US authorities continue to warn the public that legitimate sweepstakes never require advance payment of taxes or fees, and any request for upfront money to claim a prize is a scam.