Two men from Queens were arrested and charged with second-degree grand larceny for allegedly defrauding a 90-year-old out of $250,000 through a fake sweepstakes scheme. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office described the case as a deliberate act of deception, identifying the suspects as 31-year-old Oral Durloo of Brooklyn and 31-year-old Brandon Nairne of Queens.
The scheme began in December when the victim was falsely told by phone that he had won an $18 million Publishers Clearing House prize. One of the accused visited the elderly man at home with paperwork claiming to validate the win, gradually persuading him to pay taxes and processing fees. The scam included trips to the bank, resulting in the victim withdrawing about $257,000. The ruse ended when the senior realized he was being defrauded and contacted law enforcement, prompting an investigation led by the Suffolk County Police and the DA’s Financial Crimes Bureau.
The judicial process moved quickly: Durloo and Nairne were arraigned on Monday, shortly before the details of the case became public. Court records indicate that both defendants were released on their own recognizance, as their charges were not bail-eligible. Durloo faces additional legal issues due to an unrelated arrest warrant from Connecticut. He is represented by the Legal Aid Society, while Nairne is represented by attorney Eric Besso, Esq.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney emphasized that authorities will not tolerate criminals preying on seniors, noting that close collaboration with Homeland Security and local police helped bring the suspects to justice. Assistant District Attorney Jen Milito is handling the prosecution, with Detective Daniel Pagano leading the investigation. Durloo and Nairne have made their initial court appearances, with Nairne scheduled to return today, the same day the details of the alleged scam were widely reported.
