Members Of Fraudulent Jamaican Sweepstakes Ring Sentenced For Conspiracy, Money Laundering And Aggravated Identity Theft
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Shameer Hassan (45, Kissimmee) and Nadine Bromfield Alexander (39, Orlando) to 10 years and 7 years in federal prison, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. Hassan was sentenced to an additional 2 years’ imprisonment for money laundering. The court also ordered Hassan and Alexander to pay $150,314 in restitution to the identified victims of the fraud scheme.
A federal jury found Hassan and Alexander guilty on November 6, 2018.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Hassan and Alexander participated in a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme that operated in the Middle District of Florida and Jamaica. Members of the conspiracy targeted victims throughout the United States, many of whom were elderly, and falsely informed them that they had won a multi-million dollar prize in a sweepstakes contest. The conspirators instructed the victims to wire funds to “representatives” in Orlando in order to prepay fees and taxes associated with the prize. Upon receipt of the funds, other members of the conspiracy converted the funds to money orders and cash. They then paid Hassan, who operated several money transfer businesses, to wire the fraud proceeds to Jamaica.
Alexander stole the personal identity information belonging to more than 35 individuals from her workplace and gave that information to her co-conspirators. Hassan then used the stolen identity information to launder the funds. In less than two years, Hassan and his co-conspirators transferred $4.7 million in funds, obtained from victims, to conspirators in Jamaica.
The court previously sentenced the following members of the conspiracy:
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Charlton Morris (39, Casselberry) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced to 10 years, 1 month in prison.
Robert Blake Madurie (29, Jamaica) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Danny Lopez (32, Orlando) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison.
Treysier LaPalme (25, Orlando) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to seven years and three three months in prison.
Oral Anthony Stewart (35, Lithonia, Georgia) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the SCIRS Federal Financial Crimes Task Force, whose members include the IRS- Criminal Investigation, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Cloud Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Winter Park Police Department, the Casselberry Police Department, the Kissimmee Police Department, the Maitland Police Department, the Palm Bay Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karen L. Gable and Roger B. Handberg.
