In short
- The scheme involved at least 115 victims and operated from around June 2015 until around May 2022.
- Gentles was ordered to pay $349,433.75 in restitution and will serve a three-year term of court-ordered supervision after imprisonment.
What happened
Alando Gentles, a Jamaican national, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his role in a telemarketing lottery scam that targeted elderly victims. The scam, which operated from around June 2015 until around May 2022, involved contacting victims by phone and mail, falsely claiming they had won a sweepstakes and instructing them to pay taxes and fees to claim their winnings.
Victims sent money through prepaid cards, USPS money orders, bank money orders, mailed cash or checks, or wire transfers to co-conspirators' bank accounts. Gentles received wire transfers and made ATM withdrawals in Jamaica, and was extradited to the U.S. for prosecution. He was also ordered to pay $349,433.75 in restitution and serve three years of court-ordered supervision.
Gentles and co-conspirators then told the victims they must pay taxes and fees to claim or receive their winnings.
In numbers
- 115 identified victims
- $349,433.75 restitution ordered
- 36 months prison sentence
Named in this item
What compliance teams should check
- Review customer transaction patterns for wire transfers to Jamaica and ATM withdrawals linked to lottery or sweepstakes claims.
- Screen for use of prepaid cards, USPS money orders, and bank money orders in connection with lottery or cash award schemes targeting elderly clients.
- Monitor accounts for deposits or transfers matching the typology of victims paying taxes or fees to claim winnings, as described in the DOJ case.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing risk of telemarketing lottery scams targeting elderly individuals, often involving cross-border transactions and multiple payment methods such as wire transfers, prepaid cards, and money orders. Compliance officers must be vigilant in detecting patterns consistent with such fraud, especially when funds are sent internationally or withdrawn abroad. The prosecution and sentencing of Alando Gentles underscore the importance of robust AML/CFT controls to identify, report, and prevent similar schemes that exploit vulnerable populations.
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