LA CROSSE, Wis. – Five individuals are facing felony charges after allegedly orchestrating a complex sweepstakes scam that defrauded an elderly La Crosse County couple of more than $450,000 over eight months.
Gavin J. McIntosh, 37, of Jamaica, and four others — Malcolm Christopher Sterling (26), Faedar Brittanya Rockhead (24), Tanya Santanya Rockhead (34), and Shanice Shereece Reeves (31) — are charged with theft by false representation over $100,000 as parties to a crime, specifically targeting elderly victims.
How the scam worked
The scheme began in May 2024, when the couple, both in their 70s, were contacted by individuals claiming they had won sweepstakes from Publisher’s Clearing House and later Mega Millions Reader’s Digest. The scammers demanded upfront payments for taxes and fees before the victims could claim their supposed winnings.
Over time, the victims mailed $361,200 in cash, bought $16,322 in gift cards, had $53,733 taken from their checking account, and were charged $17,494 on their credit card without permission.
Tactics used by the scammers:
Over 2,400 calls made to the couple between May 2024 and February 2025 (approx. 8+ calls/day).
Use of multiple fake identities and phone numbers.
Remote access software installed on the victims’ computer to steal personal and financial information.
Airline tickets to Las Vegas purchased using the victims’ credit card.
Investigators traced an attempted $16,815 credit card transfer in January, leading to key surveillance footage showing several suspects depositing funds from victims into their accounts.
Nationwide operation uncovered
Authorities revealed that this group had previously targeted elderly victims in Texas, Ohio, California, Oregon, Alabama, and Florida, stealing thousands of dollars in each case with similar tactics.
One Texas victim lost $12,300 after being promised $2.5 million in winnings. An Ohio victim lost $7,000 after being tricked into depositing money into one of the suspects’ accounts.
Legal proceedings and current status
All five suspects face up to 12.5 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. As of late September, Gavin McIntosh and Tanya Rockhead have active warrants in La Crosse County and are believed to be in Jamaica.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including Las Vegas Metropolitan Police.
Scam warning signs and advice
Michelle Reinen of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says scams like this are sadly common, particularly involving fake Publisher’s Clearing House claims.
She urges consumers to watch for red flags:
Requests for immediate payment
Secrecy surrounding a “prize”
Threats of arrest or consequences
Upfront payments for “fees” or “taxes”
“They do it in a way to heighten the emotion. So, you don’t think reasonably or rationally anymore,” Reinen said.
If a loved one is targeted, Reinen encourages compassion and conversation, not shame.
“Check who they’ve been talking to… then help them evaluate and problem-solve.”
She added:
“Stop, think, confirm and verify — then decide whether to act or react.”
