Jamaican man sentenced after Arizona elder loses over $480K in fraud scheme | Arizona News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – A Jamaican man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims, costing one Arizona resident more than $480,000. According to the District of Arizona, the scheme involved misleading victims into believing they had won a prize, requiring them to pay fees or taxes to claim their winnings.

Deeno Roberto Jackson, 27, was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 28. Jackson had pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.

“American seniors should be respected, not taken advantage of,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said. “Scammers use fake sweepstakes, health care, tech support, and government imposter schemes to steal seniors’ hard-earned savings.”

FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke emphasized the importance of reporting fraud. “Most people work hard for their well-earned money; Mr. Jackson did not. He preyed on the trust and good faith of our elderly population for personal gain,” Janke said. “Any and all reporting of elder fraud is significant, and we are grateful to the victims in this case who came forward.”

The fraudulent scheme involved co-conspirators creating the false impression that victims had won a lottery or sweepstakes, requiring them to pay upfront fees. These fees were collected through gift cards and bank deposits into accounts controlled by Jackson and others, with the victims misled into believing they were dealing with federal representatives.

Jackson has been ordered to pay restitution totaling $74,530 to various victims. The FBI’s Tucson office led the investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.