The U.S. District Court in Charleston, South Carolina, indicted five individuals on March 31, 2026, for a sweepstakes fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded victims of over $3.5 million. The scheme targeted people—many elderly—by falsely claiming they won cash prizes, then demanding upfront payments for “taxes and fees.” Funds were allegedly laundered and sent to Jamaica.
Charged Individuals and Penalties
All face up to 30 years in prison, $500,000 fines, and 3 years supervised release. Here’s a breakdown:
| Name | Charges |
|---|
| Name | Charges |
|---|---|
| Xavier Gordon | Conspiracy to commit mail/wire fraud; multiple mail/wire fraud counts; conspiracy to commit money laundering |
| Warner Gordon | Conspiracy to commit mail/wire fraud; mail fraud; multiple wire fraud counts; conspiracy to commit money laundering |
| Kevin Milton Simpson | Conspiracy to commit mail/wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering |
| Tashagae Narcia Leslie | Conspiracy to commit mail/wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering |
| Kemar Christopher Edwards | Conspiracy to commit mail/wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering |
Scheme Overview
- Tactics: Victims believed they won sweepstakes; scammers demanded payments to “release” winnings.
- Impact: Over 100 elderly victims lost $3.5M+.
- Laundering: Proceeds funneled to Jamaica.
This fits a common “Jamaican lottery scam” pattern, often preying on seniors via phone or mail. The DOJ highlighted the elderly victims, emphasizing protections like reporting to FTC.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP. Note: Indictments are allegations; trials are pending.
