Jamaican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Telemarketing Lottery Scam Targeting Elderly Victims

FLORENCE, S.C. - Alando Gentles, 43, of Jamaica, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for wire fraud conspiracy involving a telemarketing lottery scam targeting elderly victims.

Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service learned that individuals in Myrtle Beach, were operating a cash award/lottery telemarketing scam with domestic and international connections, targeted at elderly victims, that occurred from around June 2015 until around May 2022. The investigation revealed the scheme involved a total of at least 115 victims.

The investigation identified Alando Gentles as an individual who participated in the scheme in Jamaica. As part of the scheme, Gentles and co-conspirators contacted elderly victims via phone and mail and falsely informed the victims they were the winner of a sweepstakes. Gentles and co-conspirators then told the victims they must pay taxes and fees to claim or receive their winnings. The victims then purchased prepaid cards, USPS money orders, and bank money orders; mailed cash or personal checks; made deposits into co-conspirator's bank accounts; or sent wire transfers to co-conspirator's bank accounts. In addition to calling victims, Gentles received wire transfers of funds obtained from the scheme in Jamaica and made ATM withdrawals in Jamaica from an account containing funds obtained from the scheme. Following his indictment, Gentles was extradited from Jamaica for federal prosecution.

Chief United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gentles to 36 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also ordered Gentles to pay $349,433.75 in restitution to the victims of his crime.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.

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