A Jamaican man was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison in the United States after pleading guilty to defrauding 19 elderly victims of their money through a sweepstakes scam.

He is 27 year old Romario Mark Anthony Murray of Montego-Bay, St. James.

Murray was extradited to the United States in March of this year to answer to the charges.

The sentence was announced by United States attorney Jason R. Coody from the northern district of Florida.

Coody said Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens.

He said given the country’s large elder population, Florida experiences far too many instances of fraud against unsuspecting, vulnerable seniors.

Court documents indicate that between 2017 and 2019, Murray and others conspired together to receive wire transfers and packages mailed by victims, totalling US$608,000.

The conspirators then took a percentage of the funds for themselves before forwarding the remainder to Murray in Jamaica.

Nineteen victims were identified through banking records and law enforcement analysis.

Murray’s prison sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Acting inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal inspection service, Miami Division, Juan Vargas said the sentence should send a clear message to criminals defrauding American residents that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will relentlessly pursue them, regardless of international borders, and bring them to justice.