Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
J’can sentenced to three years in US prison for US$600,000 lottery scam
Roshard Andrew Carty,34, was sentenced in a US District Court in Tacoma after pleading guilty to a lottery scheme that cost an elderly victim more than $600,000, .
Latest News, News
May 15, 2026

J’can sentenced to three years in US prison for US$600,000 lottery scam

TACOMA, United States – A Jamaican man who was extradited to the United States (US) on lottery scam charges in 2025 was sentenced to three years in prison on Thursday.

Roshard Andrew Carty,34, was sentenced in a US District Court in Tacoma after pleading guilty to a lottery scheme that cost an elderly victim more than $600,000, the United States Attorney’s office said on Friday.

According to records filed in the case, Carty first contacted the 73-year-old southwest Washington victim in 2020. He posed as an employee of Publisher’s Clearinghouse and claimed the victim won $22 million and a car in the lottery, but that she needed to pay taxes and fees to access her winnings. He convinced the victim that the FBI was recording the call and told her she was not to tell anyone about the big win.

Between August 2020 and February 2024, he convinced the victim to send more than $600,000 to various money couriers throughout the United States, who ultimately sent the money to Carty in Jamaica.

Carty was arrested in Jamaica on August 21, 2025, and arrived in the Western District of Washington for arraignment on October 23, 2025; he pleaded guilty in February 2026.

READ: Jamaican extradited to US facing charges for lottery scam involvement

US District Judge Tiffany Cartwright said, “Even as [the victim] hesitated and tried to resist,” Carty persisted in contacting her through a variety of means.

“This defendant was relentless in defrauding a vulnerable victim,” said First Assistant US Attorney Neil Floyd. “At every turn when she tried to end the contact, he persisted in playing on her isolation and her fear of losing the money she had already lost. He stole the money she was counting on to survive in retirement, so that he could buy luxuries and live large in Jamaica. It is despicable conduct deserving of this punishment.”

Case documents revealed that Carty’s requests for cash started small and grew over time. He directed the victim to remove small amounts of cash from her accounts and send them to US locations via FedEx.

Carty told the victim the money was lost or stolen and demanded more. He told the victim to borrow against her home so she could send more money and convinced the victim to sell her home to cover additional “costs and fees” to claim her prize

Prosecutors say Carty was relentless in contacting the victim using various phone numbers and texting programs, contacting her thousands of times throughout the fraud.

When she tried to cut off contact, he tried sending tow trucks, and pizza deliveries, and asked her landlord for a welfare check to try to get back in touch with the victim.

“Mr Carty relentlessly and cruelly manipulated and intimidated his elderly victim to deprive her of her life savings for his own profit,” said Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office.

“His lies in pursuit of her money even went so far as to abuse the trust and credibility of law enforcement by claiming the FBI was recording a call. Ultimately, the victim lost her home without receiving any of the fictitious prize money Mr Carty had promised. We hope this case sends a message to would-be lottery scammers that the FBI will work just as relentlessly with our partners to hold fraudsters accountable, even when they reside beyond the borders of the United States.”

The southwest Washington victim was not the only one uncovered by law enforcement, and investigators fear Carty may return to fraud after his prison term.

As the government pointed out in its sentencing memorandum, “Carty’s conduct here shows he is relentless, callous, and has an aptitude for deception—he is unlikely to be deterred by the reality that his conduct left people like Victim 1 destitute. Carty knew Victim 1, Victim 2, and likely others were insolvent because of him, and yet he persisted in his scam. And unlike with US-based defendants, the US Probation Office cannot effectively monitor Carty when he returns home.”

Tags:

Jamaica lottery scam
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

South African women runners arm themselves after string of killings
Latest News, News
South African women runners arm themselves after string of killings
September 26, 2026
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP)—Before lacing up her running shoes, Nancy Masha checked the knife and pepper spray she carried to protect herself on ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Powerful storm pummels northeast US with rain, high winds
International News, Latest News
Powerful storm pummels northeast US with rain, high winds
September 26, 2026
NEW YORK, United States (AFP)—Heavy rain and strong winds battered the northeastern United States on Saturday as an unusually powerful autumn storm in...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
OAS member states call for renewal of gang suppression force mandate in Haiti
International News, Latest News, Regional
OAS member states call for renewal of gang suppression force mandate in Haiti
September 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (CMC)—Thirty-two active member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) have issued a joint statement calling for...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Spain beat England in Nations League to extend unbeaten run
International News, Latest News
Spain beat England in Nations League to extend unbeaten run
September 26, 2026
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—World champions Spain came from behind to beat England 3-2 in an entertaining Nations League encounter at Wembley on Satu...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trump rules out military action on Cuba
International News, Latest News, Regional
Trump rules out military action on Cuba
September 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – United States (US) President Donald Trump on Saturday predicted that the US and Cuba will reach an agreement, and he...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Haiti PM says country at watershed moment, urges full backing for security force
International News, Latest News, Regional
Haiti PM says country at watershed moment, urges full backing for security force
September 26, 2026
UNITED NATIONS (CMC) – Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé says the French-speaking Caribbean country is at a “watershed moment” in its strug...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Man City chairman defiant over reported Premier League charges
International News, Latest News
Man City chairman defiant over reported Premier League charges
September 26, 2026
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said on Saturday that the club were confident they could prove their "innoce...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Senator Thompson implores Jamaican men to screen early for prostate cancer amid rise in cases
Latest News, News
Senator Thompson implores Jamaican men to screen early for prostate cancer amid rise in cases
September 26, 2026
Government Senator and consultant urologist Dr Elon Thompson is imploring Jamaican men to take their health seriously and in particular to get screene...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct