Two suspects accused of participating in an elaborate sweepstakes fraud scheme entered not guilty pleas Wednesday in La Crosse County Court.
31-year-old Shanice Rice and 26-year-old Malcolm Sterling are charged with felony theft by false representation involving elderly victims. Both remain jailed on $1 million cash bonds with strict release conditions.
According to investigators, the scam targeted a married couple in their 70s over an eight-month period. The victims were repeatedly told they had won major prizes from Publisher’s Clearing House and Mega Millions, but needed to pay upfront taxes and processing fees to claim their winnings.
Believing the claims were legitimate, the couple sent $361,200 in cash, purchased $16,322 in gift cards, and had $53,733 taken from their checking account without authorization. Scammers allegedly called the couple more than 2,400 times and even installed remote-access software on their home computer.
Court records identify five individuals in the scheme: Rice, Sterling, Faedar Rockhead, Tanya Rockhead, and Gavin McIntosh. Investigators say the group used numerous fake names and phone numbers, and traveled together on airline tickets obtained through fraud.
Authorities believe this case is part of a larger pattern of sweepstakes scams targeting elderly victims across multiple states since 2018.
Officials urge the public to stay alert for warning signs such as urgent payment demands, secrecy instructions, threats, or requests for upfront fees. Anyone who believes they may be a victim should contact local law enforcement or consumer protection agencies.
