(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Tajay Singh, 29, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for his role in a lottery scam that targeted elderly victims, according to U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti. 

Federal prosecutors said Singh, a resident of St. James Parish in Jamaica, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. 

According to evidence presented in court, the scheme operated from January 2021 through October 2023. 

Investigators said conspirators contacted elderly victims and falsely told them they had won a lottery prize but first needed to pay taxes and fees to claim the winnings. 

After victims sent the money, prosecutors said, they never received any prize money. 

Authorities said the conspiracy used bank accounts opened in victims’ names, wire transfers, ATM withdrawals in Jamaica and purchases of physical goods to carry out and conceal the fraud scheme.