Jamaican Lavrick Willocks, who was on Monday sentenced to six years in a US federal prison for being the mastermind in a lottery scam that defrauded at least 95 Americans out of more than US$5.8 million, will have to make restitution in the sum of $1.5 million.
This was ordered by U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland.
Judge Hovland credited Willocks with co-operating with the authorities but called him a ringleader.
Willocks, who is 29 years old, will be eligible for parole after serving another three years.
In July, the judge ordered that cash and jewels seized from Willocks when he was arrested in Jamaica in November 2016 be liquidated and the proceeds given to victims.
The property included the equivalent of nearly US$12,000 and jewelry of unknown worth, including gold chains, gold rings, gold and silver bracelets, and Rolex watches.
Prosecutors said Willocks operated the scam out of a mansion in Jamaica where he lived with his mother, Dahlia Hunter.
US authorities eventually charged 27 people and identified victims in at least five states: North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Texas and Arizona.
Officials said one of the victims died by suicide.
Willocks pleaded guilty in July 2017 to conspiracy, and prosecutors dropped 65 other counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering.
He had faced up to 40 years in prison, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan O’Konek recommended only about six years because he cooperated, and his plea deal prompted several other defendants to also plead guilty.
I waan know what he used the money to do. Also how will he be paying restitution? Will he be held in America and made to work? How long will it take to pay off over a million US dollars?
6 yrs only even with co-operating is BS. That make it easy for others to do it an snitch if get caught. While these ppl are out of their hard earn money. Dem fi send ppl fi kill him.. Blasted teef.
Suck out yuh mada badmind pussyhole
U mussi cah read, u noh so sah him live inna mansion??
Right .. he have more than one mansion, cars, bikes , farm .. unlike the other scammers he wasn’t buying guns giving the ghetto yute them him teach them to scam and mek them work for him
Ole snitch ass….all a dem so called badman a cooperate smh