By NAN Contributor
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. July 28, 2017: A 28-year-old Jamaican man could spend the next 40 years of his life in a US jail after admitting guilt in masterminding a lottery scam that defrauded dozens of mostly elderly Americans out of millions of dollars in North Dakota.
Lavrick Willocks reportedly copped a plea deal with federal prosecutors in North Dakota and appeared in court yesterday, Thursday, July 27, 2017, to enter his plea.
Authorities say the scam operated out of a Kingston, Jamaica, mansion where Willocks lived with his mother, Dahlia Hunter, who is also charged along with 14 others. At least 90 mostly elderly Americans lost a total of more than $5.7 million.
Under the deal, Willocks, who has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration from Southern New Hampshire University, faces up to 40 years in prison but prosecutors have agreed to recommend a much lighter punishment of about 10 years because he cooperated with authorities.
They also dropped 65 other counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering though they will recommend that he pay restitution.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovlandhas not yet scheduled sentencing.
