US attorney for Jamaican lottery scam defendant wants out
BISMARCK, North Dakota (AP) — The court-appointed lawyer for a Jamaican man accused in North Dakota of masterminding a multimillion-dollar lottery scam says he can’t work with his client.
Lavrick Willocks is charged in federal court with conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. Authorities say the sophisticated scheme bilked more than 70 mostly elderly Americans, including a North Dakota woman, out of more than US$5.6 million.
Defense attorney John Goff filed a motion Tuesday to withdraw from the case, saying he can no longer “communicate effectively” with Willocks. Willocks had previously filed court documents asking for a new attorney.
Another defendant in the case, Sanjay Williams, was sentenced in 2015 to 20 years in prison after he was convicted by a Bismarck jury. Williams had two court-appointed lawyers replaced in his case.
