U.K./Jamaica Citizen Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering in International Lottery Scam – Beaver County Radio

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a citizen of the United Kingdom and Jamaica who was illegally residing in Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Nicole Lamont, 32, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville on May 20, 2026.

According to prosecutors, Lamont participated in a lottery scam in which elderly victims were contacted by phone and falsely told they had won sweepstakes prizes, often totaling millions of dollars. Victims were then instructed to send money through checks, cash, money orders or wire transfers to cover supposed taxes on their winnings.

Prosecutors said Lamont received funds directly from at least three members of the scheme, deposited the money into her bank account and made the funds available to other members of the conspiracy located in Jamaica.

Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for Sept. 17, 2026. Federal law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Any sentence imposed will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal Sentencing Guidelines and the defendant’s prior criminal history, if any.

The court ordered Lamont to remain detained pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service.