A South Florida man, Akiel Doman, has been sentenced to 44 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to mail and wire fraud and criminal contempt. The 34-year-old North Miami Beach resident was also ordered to pay $234,995 in restitution for his involvement in a fraudulent lottery scheme targeting seniors across the U.S. Doman had pleaded guilty in October of the previous year, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office release.
The scheme, which operated from May 2020 to July 2022, involved Doman and accomplices contacting victims and falsely informing them they had won a lottery, offering large cash prizes and cars. To claim the winnings, victims were told to pay taxes or fees, which were then funneled into Doman's bank accounts through direct deposits and other methods. Doman’s actions violated a 2019 court order that prohibited him from engaging in lottery scams.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Miami Division. The announcement regarding the sentencing was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O'Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Inspector in Charge Steven L. Hodges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani prosecuted the case. Additional court documents and information can be found on the Southern District of Florida's District Court website or through the PACER system under case number 24-cr-60133. The sentence and restitution aim to address the harm caused by the fraudulent scheme, which exploited the vulnerability of older adults.
