The US authorities have turned up the heat on persons allegedly involved in the Jamaican lottery scam.
A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday in North Dakota charges over a dozen defendants with bilking people out of more than US$1 million in the scam which targets elderly Americans.
Prosecutors said in the 33-page document that at least 10 of the 20 victims are over 55 years old including an 83-year-old woman.
Timothy Purdon, US Attorney, said he could not comment specifically on the charges because it is an open case.
The indictment listed the names of the 15 people charged but not where they live, although most are believed to be from Jamaica.
Besides the victims from North Dakota, investigators have identified targets in New York, New Hampshire, South Carolina, California and Florida.
Anti-Lottery Scam legislation passed
The development came 24 hours after the Fraudulent Transactions Special Provisions Bill dubbed the Anti-Lottery Scam legislation was passed in Parliament paving the way for it to be signed into law by the Governor-General.
Among other things, makes provision for powers of search, seizure and restitution and for guilty persons to be fined and sentenced to a term of imprisonment for up to 25 years.
Peter Bunting, Minister of National Security, has promised early prosecution of scammers who have been damaging Jamaica's name internationally.
And a custodian for the Rochester City School District in New York is facing charges for allegedly becoming involved in the Jamaican lottery scam.
According to William Hochul, US Attorney, Rickey Miller Senior, 54, would contact elderly people and tell them they had won the lottery, but had to send money to pay for delivery fees and taxes.
Miller would receive the money and send a portion to conspiring partners in Jamaica.
If found guilty he could receive a maximum of 20 years in prison for mail fraud.
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