A Jamaican man who admitted taking part in an international lottery scam that zeroed in on older Americans has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison in Pittsburgh. Prosecutors say the conspiracy preyed on vulnerable seniors across the country, with more than 30 victims losing a combined total in the millions. The defendant, 29-year-old Tajay Singh, was arrested in Jamaica in December 2023 and extradited to Pittsburgh to face charges.
Sentence and plea
Singh pleaded guilty under a plea agreement, and U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville handed down a 54-month term along with an order of restitution tied to Singh’s role in the scheme. According to TribLIVE, court filings assign roughly $400,000 in restitution to Singh for the funds prosecutors say he personally handled.
How investigators say the scam worked
Federal investigators say members of the ring bought spreadsheets of leads and cold-called older people, telling them they had won large sweepstakes prizes. The catch: victims were told they had to pay upfront “taxes” or fees before the money could be released.
In some cases, conspirators sent forged documents bearing seals of government agencies and pretended to be lawyers, accountants, or federal agents to crank up the pressure on victims to wire money. Those details surfaced in earlier prosecutions and federal summaries, which trace about $4.5 million in losses to the broader conspiracy.
As reported by WPXI and the Department of Justice, authorities say the money was funneled through mules and bank accounts before being withdrawn overseas.
Victims' losses and court remarks
Prosecutors wrote in court that the scheme was designed to steal huge amounts of money from elderly victims, who were selected because they were elderly and vulnerable, describing people who sold homes or emptied life savings trying to keep up with the demands. The human toll, they argued, went well beyond the dollar figures.
Singh’s attorney told the judge that his client completed more than 100 certificate programs while held at Butler County Prison and urged the court to weigh those rehabilitation efforts at sentencing. The defense lawyer also said he expects Singh will be deported to Jamaica after he finishes his federal term, according to TribLIVE.
How to protect seniors from similar scams
Experts stress a basic rule: legitimate lotteries do not call winners and demand fees or taxes up front. Families are urged to treat any unsolicited “you won” call that comes with an immediate payment demand as a major red flag.
The FBI advises victims to save emails, letters and call information and to report suspected elder fraud through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). AARP’s Fraud Watch Network offers a helpline and resources for people worried that they or a loved one may have been targeted. For official guidance, see the FBI and AARP.
What’s next
Singh is one of 12 people charged in the sprawling case, which prosecutors say operated for more than two years. Other defendants are still moving through the system and remain subject to prosecution.
Hoodline previously covered the initial indictments and the size of the losses; see swindling seniors out of $4.5 million for background on the broader investigation.
