Jamaican Man Sentenced for Scamming 28 Americans in Fake Lottery Scheme

A 41-year-old Jamaican man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for his role in a lottery scam that stole $3.4 million from 28 victims across the United States, including a resident of West Michigan.

Sefton Olivair Stewart, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, participated in the nationwide fraud scheme between October 2019 and September 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.

How the Lottery Scam Worked

Stewart and his co-conspirators contacted Americans with claims that they had won major prizes in multistate lotteries. Victims were then told to pay substantial amounts in taxes and fees before receiving their supposed winnings.

In many cases, the scammers demanded more than $10,000 upfront. They also used fake bank documents to make their claims appear legitimate and convince victims to hand over their money.

Another Conspirator Also Sentenced

Stewart was extradited from Jamaica to Grand Rapids in July, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

His associate, 37-year-old Florida resident Danielle Diarbakerly, was sentenced to three years in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said authorities are determined to hold fraudsters accountable, regardless of where they operate. He emphasized that people who make a career out of targeting American citizens should expect to face prosecution and prison time.

Stewart will be removed from the United States after completing his prison sentence, according to federal prosecutors.