A Jamaican man has been extradited to the United States to face federal wire fraud charges in connection with a long-running scheme to defraud a California woman out of thousands of dollars.
Dwayne Anderson, 35, of Hannover, Jamaica, made his initial court appearance in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Monday following his extradition. Anderson was arrested by Jamaican authorities on July 11 at the request of the U.S. government and remained in custody in Jamaica until his transfer to the U.S. on August 22.
According to the indictment, Anderson participated in a fraudulent scheme from 2010 to September 2017, targeting an American woman. Using fake names, Anderson contacted the victim by phone, text, and email, falsely claiming that she had won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes. He convinced her to send money to cover various fees and taxes associated with the supposed prize. Anderson continued to demand additional payments, promising that her winnings would be released once the payments were made.
In September 2017, Anderson allegedly lured the victim to Jamaica under the pretense that she would be able to collect her winnings. He instructed her to bring $1,600 in cash, which she handed over to a driver at the airport, as directed by Anderson. Despite making the payment, the victim never received any prize money.
“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch is committed to bringing transnational criminals who defraud Americans to justice, wherever they are located,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. He expressed gratitude to the Jamaican government for assisting in Anderson’s extradition.
U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota condemned Anderson’s actions, stating, “Making a living by exploiting the trust of Americans and draining their hard-earned savings is despicable. The District of South Dakota will pursue and prosecute anyone who engages in criminal acts that harm Americans.”
Eric Shen, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in protecting Americans from transnational crime. He acknowledged the critical assistance provided by the Jamaica Constabulary Force in bringing Anderson to justice.
Anderson faces eight counts of wire fraud in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. If convicted, he could receive up to 20 years in prison for each count.
The USPIS led the investigation, with significant support from the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated the extradition. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Brandon Robers and Edward Emokpae of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Hoffman for the District of South Dakota.
The Justice Department says it continues to investigate similar fraud schemes targeting U.S. residents.
