U.S. Marshals have arrested Nickoy Campbell, a 29-year-old man from Margate, Florida, following accusations of his involvement in a multi-million dollar lottery scam targeting at least 20 victims aged 55 and older. Alongside him, brothers Dwayne and Wayne Anthony Henry from Maryland face similar federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
Court documents reveal that the trio allegedly amassed over $9.5 million by misleading victims into believing they had won significant lottery or sweepstakes prizes. To claim these supposed winnings, victims were instructed to pay various taxes and fees.
In one notable case, a Florida resident was told they had won $8.4 million from Publishers Clearing House but needed to send $100,000 to collect their prize. The victim then sent a $40,000 cashier’s check to Campbell, which was deposited into his TD Bank account.
In another instance, an Oregon victim was misled into believing they had won $5.5 million, requiring them to pay taxes to unlock a briefcase supposedly containing their winnings. The package was sent from a Staples store in Maryland.
Authorities reported that this fraudulent scheme persisted for over three years, starting in October 2020. If convicted, Campbell and his accomplices could face up to 20 years in federal prison along with hefty fines.