Jamaican National Pleads Guilty To Role In International Sweepstakes Scam That Stole More Than $9 Million From Elderly Victims

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the guilty plea of JORDAN TROUGHT for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams. TROUGHT pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. TROUGHT was arrested on August 28, 2025, in Jamaica and extradited to the United States.

"Jordan Trought admitted today that he helped lead an international fraud ring that stole millions of dollars from elderly victims across the United States through lies about sweepstakes winnings," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Trought and his co-conspirators allegedly exploited trust, age, and hope for profit, including by taking control of victims' bank accounts and routing stolen money to Jamaica. Today's plea reflects this Office's commitment to protecting vulnerable victims, pursuing fraudsters across borders, and holding accountable those who steal from Americans."

According to the Superseding Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:

From at least 2015 through at least 2025, TROUGHT and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the "Elder Fraud Scheme"), through which TROUGHT and his co-conspirators defrauded more than 200 elderly victims of more than $9 million. Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name-e.g., "David Miller"-claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car from a well-known marketing and sweepstakes company, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize. The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings. In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, and cash, as well as by wire, Zelle, and Venmo transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller. TROUGHT and his co-conspirators also gained control of some victims' bank accounts, which they used to transfer money out of and through those accounts. Victims' funds were ultimately transferred to associates of TROUGHT and his co-conspirators, as well as to an automobile business operated by TROUGHT in Jamaica.

TROUGHT operated the Elder Fraud Scheme from Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in both Jamaica and the United States. TROUGHT joined the fraud ring in or around March 2021 and became one of its leaders. TROUGHT is being held responsible for more than $6 million stolen from more than 100 victims from March 2021 through TROUGHT's arrest in August 2025.

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TROUGHT, 30, a citizen of Jamaica, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. TROUGHT also agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, each in the amount of $6,166,227.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. TROUGHT will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs, and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing TROUGHT's arrest and extradition.

This case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.