1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:08,630 In this episode of American Greed, congratulations, you've won the lottery, 2 00:00:08,630 --> 00:00:09,630 it's going to cost you. 3 00:00:10,350 --> 00:00:13,190 These scammers are master's manipulators. 4 00:00:13,410 --> 00:00:18,110 A lottery scam based in Jamaica is stealing billions of dollars from 5 00:00:18,110 --> 00:00:19,110 unsuspecting Americans. 6 00:00:20,170 --> 00:00:25,410 Here's a check for a whopping $2 .5 million, sir. This is Jamaican Greed. 7 00:00:25,670 --> 00:00:29,110 This is what they do to make money. This is their job. 8 00:00:31,260 --> 00:00:34,400 Scammers are spending money just as quick as they make it. 9 00:00:34,780 --> 00:00:37,400 The government is taking the fight to the criminals. 10 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:39,980 But the damage is already done. 11 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,560 This isn't a victimless crime and it's not pilfering from rich people. 12 00:00:46,820 --> 00:00:50,560 I didn't really know what to do because I'm thinking to myself, what if this was 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:52,840 my grandfather or my grandmother? 14 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,640 I thought, oh my God, you know. 15 00:00:57,300 --> 00:00:59,440 I couldn't believe it. 16 00:01:19,230 --> 00:01:20,510 October 2015. 17 00:01:21,470 --> 00:01:24,890 It's a carefree, sunny day in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 18 00:01:25,730 --> 00:01:30,110 But for Tammy Donaldson, this lazy afternoon isn't time for fun. 19 00:01:30,430 --> 00:01:31,930 She has work to do. 20 00:01:32,390 --> 00:01:37,630 The swimsuit model and former Miss Maxim has recently started her own makeup 21 00:01:37,630 --> 00:01:38,630 business. 22 00:01:41,110 --> 00:01:45,990 While making a trip to the post office, she's stopped by a man in the parking 23 00:01:45,990 --> 00:01:50,200 lot. This elderly man, he was like, ma 'am, could you help me? He's like, oh, 24 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,000 could you take my hand and help me inside? 25 00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:57,740 After she walks him inside, Donaldson says he makes an unusual request. 26 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:04,160 He was like, you have to help me. Can you get me the overnight envelope and 27 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,080 information to fill out for an overnight package? 28 00:02:07,340 --> 00:02:09,340 Tammy goes to retrieve an envelope. 29 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:14,500 But as she walks across the lobby, a postal worker tells her to come to the 30 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:15,500 counter. 31 00:02:15,630 --> 00:02:18,810 I leave the guy, I go up there, and he goes, don't help him. 32 00:02:19,190 --> 00:02:23,470 And I was like, why? The postal worker tells Donaldson that he fears the man is 33 00:02:23,470 --> 00:02:28,670 being scammed because he's constantly overnighting cash to random people. 34 00:02:29,330 --> 00:02:34,070 He advises Tammy that the best way she can help is by stopping him from sending 35 00:02:34,070 --> 00:02:35,270 any more cash. 36 00:02:36,230 --> 00:02:41,390 So after he said that to me, I was like, oh, now I definitely have to find out 37 00:02:41,390 --> 00:02:43,770 what he's doing. So I went back to him. 38 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:49,560 The man had cash in a white envelope. It was a lot. It was three grand. 39 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,840 Donaldson asks the man whom the money is for. 40 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,560 He tells her he's sending it to relatives in Missouri. 41 00:02:57,100 --> 00:03:01,420 And I was like, okay, but I looked at the address that he had wrote, and the 42 00:03:01,420 --> 00:03:03,160 address said Fort Pierce, Florida. 43 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,420 So I was like, that's odd. 44 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,540 Before he can mail the envelope, the man's phone rings. 45 00:03:09,700 --> 00:03:12,340 Tammy convinces him to let her answer it. 46 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,360 I said, who are you? And he said, I'm his family. 47 00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:19,260 Right off, I knew they were Jamaican. 48 00:03:19,780 --> 00:03:21,560 Definitely Jamaican accent. 49 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:26,260 He was an elderly white man, so I knew that right there, they weren't family. 50 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:28,440 Tammy hangs up on the caller. 51 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,500 The old man says he wants to leave. 52 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,980 He was so distraught and just so, like, worried. He's like, I can't deal with 53 00:03:35,980 --> 00:03:38,620 this now. I'm going to have to go home. I'm not doing this. 54 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:43,380 As Donaldson walks him back to the parking lot, the man admits that the 55 00:03:43,380 --> 00:03:47,460 isn't family. He just kept telling me, don't worry, don't worry, I know what 56 00:03:47,460 --> 00:03:51,480 doing. He told me, I've been doing a business deal with them for the past 57 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,720 But Tammy realizes this is no ordinary business deal. 58 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,560 At that point, my heart sank, and I was like, oh, my gosh, this man is, like, 59 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,560 sending his life savings to these people, you know, for the past year. 60 00:04:05,260 --> 00:04:07,860 $3 ,000 every couple weeks. 61 00:04:08,260 --> 00:04:09,720 That's a lot of money. 62 00:04:10,580 --> 00:04:15,040 Federal authorities say the man is likely a victim of one of the biggest 63 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,180 of the new millennium, the Jamaican lottery scam. 64 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,760 Claire Hochhalter is an assistant U .S. attorney in Bismarck, North Dakota. 65 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:29,280 He says hundreds of thousands of Americans are suckered by this scheme 66 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:34,460 year. Some people lose tens of thousands of dollars and never report it to law 67 00:04:34,460 --> 00:04:38,940 enforcement. Some people lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. 68 00:04:39,300 --> 00:04:42,680 Total losses could be up to a billion dollars annually. 69 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,160 Surprisingly, the scam is quite simple. 70 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:51,880 Kahneman placed phone calls to lucky U .S. residents and told them they won a 71 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,710 sweepstakes. It's typically millions of dollars, and oftentimes it includes a 72 00:04:56,710 --> 00:04:57,710 car. 73 00:04:58,010 --> 00:05:03,690 They use American Cash Rewards, they use Publishers Clearinghouse, Winners 74 00:05:03,690 --> 00:05:05,330 International, Mega Millions. 75 00:05:05,610 --> 00:05:08,650 There's a number of different scams that they run. 76 00:05:09,450 --> 00:05:12,350 Frank Gasper is an FBI special agent. 77 00:05:13,210 --> 00:05:17,010 This is a real phone conversation he has with a scammer. 78 00:05:17,770 --> 00:05:22,490 My mom down in Florida said she got caught, she won a lot of money. 79 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:24,100 How much money did she win? 80 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:30,420 Let me explain something to you, sir. She won $2 .5 million in a cashier's 81 00:05:30,420 --> 00:05:34,400 check. She also won $185 ,000 in cash. 82 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,200 She also won a brand new car. 83 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,800 But nothing in life is ever free. 84 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,720 Federal authorities say the prize comes with a catch. 85 00:05:45,380 --> 00:05:48,700 They're told that in order to receive it, they need to... 86 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:53,080 pay a certain amount of fees, whether it's listed as taxes or otherwise. 87 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,760 They'll claim that stamp fees come up. There's some sort of custom fee that 88 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:58,579 needs to be done. 89 00:05:58,580 --> 00:06:00,280 Some other tax. 90 00:06:00,660 --> 00:06:06,820 Well, what happened? The company already paid 99 % of her taxes already. 91 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,040 Okay. So she's just... 92 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,240 a coining fee to coin this package. 93 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:18,520 If victims choose to pay the fee, it could be the costliest mistake of their 94 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,980 lives. If you have to send money in, it's a scam. It's as easy as that. 95 00:06:22,780 --> 00:06:27,540 Next on American Green, we go inside the criminal workings of the Jamaican 96 00:06:27,540 --> 00:06:31,280 lottery scam and examine its legitimate origins. 97 00:06:31,900 --> 00:06:36,440 It's really taking a bad picture on the community itself. So, you know, it 98 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,460 really doesn't look good for us now. 99 00:06:39,020 --> 00:06:43,840 Basically turning most of these communities into kind of home. The 100 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:54,980 island 101 00:06:54,980 --> 00:07:01,220 of Jamaica is known for its beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, 102 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,180 and laid -back lifestyle. 103 00:07:04,330 --> 00:07:09,230 It's a favorite vacation destination for Americans who spend billions of dollars 104 00:07:09,230 --> 00:07:10,790 each year on the island. 105 00:07:11,170 --> 00:07:14,710 Two and a half million Americans come through as tourists every year. 106 00:07:15,870 --> 00:07:20,770 It's a very, very tight connection that we have with the Jamaicans. Luis Moreno 107 00:07:20,770 --> 00:07:23,770 is the United States ambassador to Jamaica. 108 00:07:24,030 --> 00:07:26,810 Jamaica is a very small country, 2 .9 million. 109 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,860 They have a million or so living in the U .S. I always make the joke that 110 00:07:30,860 --> 00:07:35,140 Brooklyn is the third largest city in Jamaica, and there's a bit of a truth in 111 00:07:35,140 --> 00:07:40,160 that. Despite its small size, Jamaica is the third largest English -speaking 112 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:41,900 country in the Western Hemisphere. 113 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,400 The friendly nature of the Jamaican people is one of the island's most 114 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:47,400 resources. 115 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,080 The very openness of the Jamaicans, their personality, bright, sunny 116 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,760 personality, that whole Caribbean lilt that they have. 117 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:57,740 but really, really wonderful people. 118 00:08:00,140 --> 00:08:06,040 In the 1990s, American corporations recognized the country's untapped 119 00:08:06,740 --> 00:08:12,560 Numerous businesses, including airlines, insurers, and credit card companies, 120 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:17,440 established Jamaican call centers to handle customer service duties. 121 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:23,580 Many are located in the Montego Bay Free Zone, an area designed to attract 122 00:08:23,580 --> 00:08:24,720 foreign investment. 123 00:08:25,370 --> 00:08:31,290 But shortly after their establishment, Jamaican officials say some employees go 124 00:08:31,290 --> 00:08:32,289 rogue. 125 00:08:33,309 --> 00:08:39,270 Somewhere 10 to 15 years ago, persons who perhaps had gained 126 00:08:39,270 --> 00:08:46,130 telemarketing skills figured out how to use these skills illicitly. 127 00:08:46,190 --> 00:08:50,470 Peter Bunting is Jamaica's former national security minister. 128 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,160 He says the scheme has since outgrown its call center origins. 129 00:08:55,800 --> 00:09:02,180 We've done a lot of work to protect, secure, insulate call centers 130 00:09:02,180 --> 00:09:06,560 from the reach of scammers. But they have now evolved. 131 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:12,340 They train their own youngsters coming up, typically recruit high school 132 00:09:12,340 --> 00:09:13,340 students. 133 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:18,380 One of the most notable scammers in recent years is Sanjay Williams. 134 00:09:19,230 --> 00:09:23,910 Williams lives in Montego Bay, but also maintains ties in Charlotte, North 135 00:09:23,910 --> 00:09:30,550 Carolina. U .S. prosecutors say Williams begins his career as a caller, but soon 136 00:09:30,550 --> 00:09:33,110 finds a more lucrative angle to the scam. 137 00:09:33,670 --> 00:09:38,130 Sanjay Williams apparently didn't have the skills to be as effective. 138 00:09:39,150 --> 00:09:42,230 phone scammer, so he went into the lead list selling business. 139 00:09:42,490 --> 00:09:47,790 Lead lists, also known as sucker lists, contain the names of Americans who are 140 00:09:47,790 --> 00:09:48,890 the easiest marks. 141 00:09:49,590 --> 00:09:56,230 Williams runs a website, gamblersleads .com, where the feds say he sells lists 142 00:09:56,230 --> 00:09:58,390 to nearly 400 clients. 143 00:10:00,810 --> 00:10:06,170 Sanjay Williams was able to make hundreds of thousands of dollars from 144 00:10:06,170 --> 00:10:07,069 of lead lists. 145 00:10:07,070 --> 00:10:12,890 They can range from pennies per name and number up to over $5 per name and 146 00:10:12,890 --> 00:10:15,830 number. Lead lists are compiled in different ways. 147 00:10:16,330 --> 00:10:18,330 Some are created legitimately. 148 00:10:18,730 --> 00:10:20,910 It's not illegal to collect telemarketing data. 149 00:10:21,290 --> 00:10:22,930 It's not illegal to do that. 150 00:10:23,210 --> 00:10:25,330 Companies do that all the time in the state. 151 00:10:25,590 --> 00:10:29,950 But that's often not efficient, according to U .S. Postal Inspector 152 00:10:30,620 --> 00:10:36,260 Horn says savvy scammers like Sanjay Williams use direct mail to create their 153 00:10:36,260 --> 00:10:37,260 sucker lists. 154 00:10:37,420 --> 00:10:44,260 The scammers may draft a letter and say, if you want to enter into 155 00:10:44,260 --> 00:10:48,940 a lottery, the only thing you need to do is send a payment of $19 .99 or 156 00:10:48,940 --> 00:10:53,600 whatever, and they fill out the bottom part of this mailing, which is called a 157 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:57,000 coupon. Most people recognize the letters as junk mail. 158 00:10:57,930 --> 00:11:03,090 Others willingly write down their names, address, phone numbers, and even credit 159 00:11:03,090 --> 00:11:06,130 card information, then mail back the coupons. 160 00:11:07,230 --> 00:11:11,670 All the scammers need to do is sit back and see who takes the bait. 161 00:11:12,190 --> 00:11:17,790 Whoever sent out the mailing knows that they have an individual who is, one, 162 00:11:17,870 --> 00:11:21,630 willing to pay for an entry into a lottery. 163 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:26,600 Who is willing to give you personal information on themselves that is a 164 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:27,600 to these scammers? 165 00:11:29,140 --> 00:11:34,240 The feds say Sanjay Williams develops a reputation for providing the freshest 166 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:35,240 leads. 167 00:11:35,260 --> 00:11:42,220 If you have a list that is tailor -made in the most opportunistic type 168 00:11:42,220 --> 00:11:47,340 names or the best chances of actually scamming somebody, you're going to have 169 00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:49,200 more reward for your time spent. 170 00:11:49,420 --> 00:11:50,480 And you're going to have to work. 171 00:11:50,970 --> 00:11:52,610 much less to get more reward. 172 00:11:54,070 --> 00:11:58,310 Next on American Greed, cash dumped into a woman's brassiere? 173 00:11:58,650 --> 00:12:01,270 How money gets from the U .S. to Jamaica? 174 00:12:01,790 --> 00:12:04,370 I was very nervous, very nervous. 175 00:12:04,630 --> 00:12:08,310 Pulping is actually probably one of the most nerve -wracking experiences of my 176 00:12:08,310 --> 00:12:13,810 life. And later, watch as Jamaican and U .S. law enforcement take the fight 177 00:12:13,810 --> 00:12:15,610 directly to the scammers. 178 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:37,020 2 ,000 miles northwest of Jamaica lie the frozen hinterlands of North Dakota. 179 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:40,340 To some, this is flyover country. 180 00:12:40,660 --> 00:12:46,520 A cadre of savvy Jamaican scammers knows there's more here than meets the eye. 181 00:12:46,820 --> 00:12:50,720 To them, these cattle farms smell like money. 182 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,340 Edna Schmitz lives in the tiny city of Harvey. 183 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,580 Since 1958, her family has owned a small farm just outside of town. 184 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,160 Well, it was cattle and grain farming. 185 00:13:08,380 --> 00:13:10,380 And my husband also worked on the railroad. 186 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:17,120 My dad was gone a lot, so, yeah, she took care of everything. She was out 187 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:22,020 on the tractor, she was in the house, she was cooking, she was cleaning. 188 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:27,000 In 2010, Edna is widowed when her husband passes away. 189 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,880 We got married in 1949. 190 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,920 So we were married like 61 years. 191 00:13:37,140 --> 00:13:39,000 The following year is difficult. 192 00:13:39,740 --> 00:13:45,240 I suppose she was lonely, you know, depressed and missing dad. 193 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,320 But one day in September of 2011, her phone rings. 194 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:54,000 The caller identifies himself as Newton Bennett. 195 00:13:54,540 --> 00:13:57,600 and he has some of the best news she's heard in a long time. 196 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:04,580 He was calling me to tell me that I had won 197 00:14:04,580 --> 00:14:10,000 a prize from American Cash Awards. 198 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:15,760 The friendly voice tells Edna that she has won the unbelievable sum of $19 199 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:16,760 million. 200 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:21,100 I said, well, I don't remember anything about a lottery. 201 00:14:21,420 --> 00:14:23,060 Well, he said it was a federal deal. 202 00:14:23,660 --> 00:14:24,660 You know? 203 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,460 And it was perfectly legitimate. 204 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:33,360 But before Schmitz can collect her winnings, Newton Bennett tells her that 205 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:37,260 must first take care of some taxes and other administrative costs. 206 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,780 She needs to wire $3 ,500 right away. 207 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:46,820 At the time, it just didn't seem like anything big. 208 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,920 And it's not, compared to $19 million. 209 00:14:51,340 --> 00:14:58,320 I guess I just kind of thought, well, maybe they need to just clear up 210 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,600 to get this award or whatever. 211 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:06,060 The news is like a ray of sunshine peeking through the bleak Dakota winter. 212 00:15:06,540 --> 00:15:09,600 For Edna Schmitz, life is good once again. 213 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:15,280 As she walks into her local bank to wire the money, she can barely contain her 214 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:20,140 secret. They said, don't tell anybody, not even your kids, he said, because it 215 00:15:20,140 --> 00:15:26,800 could complicate the situation of trying to get this cash prize out of there. 216 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:31,580 Edna's $3 ,500 is sent to a Mr. Young in Ohio. 217 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,500 But the $19 million never comes. 218 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:38,320 A few days later, she gets another call from Newton Bennett. 219 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,540 He says there's a problem. 220 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,940 Edna didn't send enough money to cover the taxes. 221 00:15:44,220 --> 00:15:48,080 And I said, well, why can't they just take the taxes out of the money? 222 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,800 Well, the money is not yours until they release it. 223 00:15:53,580 --> 00:15:58,560 And they won't release it until they get the taxes. 224 00:15:59,140 --> 00:16:02,680 Schmitz mails in another $20 ,000, but it's still not enough. 225 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,100 They just kept calling and kept calling. 226 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,820 Over the next eight months, she sends more money. 227 00:16:08,220 --> 00:16:11,660 $20 ,000 here, $25 ,000 there. 228 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,040 What's going on over there? 229 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:15,340 Mr. Bennett, right? 230 00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:16,700 Okay. 231 00:16:17,860 --> 00:16:23,920 She ultimately cashes out two life insurance policies totaling $279 232 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:24,920 ,000. 233 00:16:26,580 --> 00:16:30,160 It is almost like they've just taken over their 234 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,820 mind. 235 00:16:50,060 --> 00:16:56,640 Somehow they convinced her to do these things that are just 236 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:57,720 not even. 237 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,420 Not even in her personality at all. 238 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:05,180 The feds call the condition being under the ether. 239 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:12,400 Get them thinking and hoping and waiting for that prize to the point 240 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,140 where they would be willing to do almost anything. 241 00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:18,660 Edna is frustrated when the prize money never comes. 242 00:17:18,940 --> 00:17:23,420 But surprisingly, she's never angry when she speaks to Newton Bennett. 243 00:17:23,819 --> 00:17:25,160 She was, um... 244 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:32,520 A really friendly guy, and he was always, you know, had asked me about, 245 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:33,499 know, my family. 246 00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:35,320 He just wanted to know how you were doing. 247 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:37,920 Edna's experience is not unique. 248 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:42,700 As the feds say, many victims develop friendships with the callers. 249 00:17:43,260 --> 00:17:49,120 They're anxious for some sort of contact, human contact, someone who 250 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:54,600 least alleges that they care. I have talked to several victims that tell me 251 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:55,600 they want to pay. 252 00:17:56,060 --> 00:18:00,080 They will pay and have paid and are going to continue to pay just to be able 253 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,020 receive the phone calls during the day because they are so lonely. 254 00:18:03,900 --> 00:18:08,300 Federal prosecutors say Mr. Bennett's lies even extend to his name. 255 00:18:09,020 --> 00:18:14,460 They say Newton Bennett is actually Laverick Willocks, a Montego Bay man who 256 00:18:14,460 --> 00:18:17,580 allegedly purchased Edna's name on a lead list. 257 00:18:18,380 --> 00:18:21,940 Laverick Willocks was buying lists from Sanjay Williams. 258 00:18:22,670 --> 00:18:27,250 Federal prosecutors say Willocks has an extensive ring of associates that helps 259 00:18:27,250 --> 00:18:29,690 him move money from the U .S. to Jamaica. 260 00:18:30,590 --> 00:18:32,590 It went a variety of ways. 261 00:18:32,810 --> 00:18:36,810 There were wire transfers from bank accounts. In some cases, it would be 262 00:18:36,810 --> 00:18:41,250 MoneyGram or Western Union. There were other situations where currency itself 263 00:18:41,250 --> 00:18:44,790 would be mailed. And sometimes the money flies coach. 264 00:18:46,110 --> 00:18:49,410 In 2013, a woman who we'll call Rita... 265 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:54,160 says she's roped into the scam after getting a call from an old friend. 266 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:59,400 I was contacted by an acquaintance that I hadn't seen in years, and she didn't 267 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,080 describe exactly what was going on, but she had owed me some money from the 268 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:07,000 past, and said she felt that it was time to pay me back. 269 00:19:07,540 --> 00:19:10,620 Rita's friend is a relative of Lavrick Willock's. 270 00:19:10,860 --> 00:19:16,200 She says her family in Jamaica needs money, and she wants Rita to bring them 271 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:17,840 ,000 in cash. 272 00:19:18,570 --> 00:19:21,010 She said she was sick and that she couldn't go. 273 00:19:21,210 --> 00:19:25,810 She asked if I would carry it to her, and she didn't trust anyone else. 274 00:19:26,210 --> 00:19:29,710 Rita is told she can keep $2 ,000 for herself. 275 00:19:30,090 --> 00:19:34,710 But when her friend tells her how she'll be carrying the money, Rita says she 276 00:19:34,710 --> 00:19:35,730 has second thoughts. 277 00:19:36,210 --> 00:19:41,230 It would have to be in a bra that's heavily padded, and it would have to be 278 00:19:41,230 --> 00:19:43,130 under my bra. 279 00:19:43,910 --> 00:19:48,670 And in a place where with TSA patting you down, you wouldn't feel it to the 280 00:19:48,670 --> 00:19:53,130 touch because of the patting. I was nervous and I didn't want to do it. 281 00:19:53,130 --> 00:19:58,090 several hours of coaxing, Rita eventually boards a plane and smuggles 282 00:19:58,090 --> 00:19:59,110 into Jamaica. 283 00:19:59,530 --> 00:20:01,790 I was very nervous, very nervous. 284 00:20:01,990 --> 00:20:04,790 The whole thing was actually probably one of the most nerve -wracking 285 00:20:04,790 --> 00:20:07,470 experiences of my life to the point of being nauseous. 286 00:20:07,730 --> 00:20:11,070 Rita is relieved when she finally makes it to the family home. 287 00:20:11,699 --> 00:20:15,220 She delivers the cash directly to Laverick Willocks. 288 00:20:15,620 --> 00:20:17,640 It seemed like that right out of a hip -hop video. 289 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:19,720 You know, with clothes and hair. 290 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,540 And I didn't think they were going to be a terrible person, though. 291 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,080 And he seemed like a happy kid. He was happy to see me. 292 00:20:27,460 --> 00:20:29,280 Very generous. 293 00:20:29,620 --> 00:20:32,940 You know, wanted to run away with anything I needed. I'll take care of 294 00:20:33,980 --> 00:20:37,580 Next on American Greed, they say a man's home is his castle. 295 00:20:38,190 --> 00:20:41,590 and Jamaican scammers have some of the nicest castles around. 296 00:20:42,150 --> 00:20:48,990 You notice there are regular houses, but then among these regular 297 00:20:48,990 --> 00:20:55,110 houses, we have some mansion. This guy has, like, cameras all around. 298 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,420 It's a typical Wednesday morning in Montego Bay. 299 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:16,460 The sun is shining, the tourists are frolicking, and the anti -lottery police 300 00:21:16,460 --> 00:21:17,940 are readying their weapons. 301 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:24,340 It may seem drastic, but lottery scams are damaging Jamaica's image. 302 00:21:31,660 --> 00:21:36,880 And for a country that relies so heavily on tourism dollars, Image is 303 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:41,420 everything. It's extremely embarrassing for me. I think it's embarrassing for 304 00:21:41,420 --> 00:21:46,360 the government. It's embarrassing for most well -thinking Jamaicans. 305 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:52,480 Since 2009, Jamaican police and U .S. federal agents have partnered on an anti 306 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:53,740 -lottery task force. 307 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:59,800 Jim Stitzel is the Department of Homeland Security's Jamaican attache. We 308 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:00,800 to work collectively. 309 00:22:01,020 --> 00:22:03,120 It's the only way we're going to be able to get these criminals because 310 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:08,790 they're... constantly adapting and changing the way that they go after the 311 00:22:08,790 --> 00:22:15,750 victims of the United States. Once again, we are called upon to carry out a 312 00:22:15,750 --> 00:22:22,190 crucial role. The information that we have relates to electric 313 00:22:22,190 --> 00:22:24,090 camels in two communities. 314 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:30,300 Kevin Watson is a sergeant with the Major Organized Crime and Anti 315 00:22:30,300 --> 00:22:32,720 Agency, also known as MOCA. 316 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:39,860 Lottery scamming has become as lucrative as the illegal drug trade, if not more 317 00:22:39,860 --> 00:22:40,860 lucrative. 318 00:22:41,780 --> 00:22:46,460 According to Sergeant Watson, scammers' homes are often easy to spot. 319 00:22:47,390 --> 00:22:53,230 This is a normal neighborhood with houses owned by middle -income earners. 320 00:22:53,270 --> 00:22:58,310 However, among these normal houses, we have a mansion. 321 00:22:58,710 --> 00:23:05,490 We know for a fact that this house was built with proceeds from 322 00:23:05,490 --> 00:23:06,490 lottery scam activities. 323 00:23:07,370 --> 00:23:13,090 Proceeds from hard -working victims in the United States. Exactly. This guy 324 00:23:13,170 --> 00:23:14,170 like... 325 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:19,660 Camera is all our own. There we have a whole camera there. You can see us from 326 00:23:19,660 --> 00:23:21,700 more than a mile coming. 327 00:23:22,260 --> 00:23:27,240 Watson says some scammers view their work as retribution against wealthy 328 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,100 countries like the United States. 329 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:36,760 In 2012, the Jamaican dancehall artist Vibes Cartel even has a hit song about 330 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,060 the lotteries called Reparations. 331 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,880 This fan -made video says it all. 332 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:03,020 I think a lot of Jamaicans know the Vibes Cartel song that 333 00:24:03,020 --> 00:24:04,020 was done. 334 00:24:04,380 --> 00:24:08,500 And a lot of cameras, this is their way of... 335 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,040 of justifying the activity. 336 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:17,120 Sergeant Watson says the crime has become so popular that kids are 337 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:23,160 scammers. They live large, drive fancy cars, and put on outrageous displays of 338 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:28,080 wealth. Some of these lottery scammers, they earn so much money that they had 339 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:32,900 parties and they buy expensive champagne and use the champagne to wash their 340 00:24:32,900 --> 00:24:33,900 cars. 341 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:38,820 On one of her trips to Jamaica, Rita says Labrick Willocks is treated like a 342 00:24:38,820 --> 00:24:40,060 in the clubs. 343 00:24:40,580 --> 00:24:41,580 Rock star. 344 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:46,140 He's a baller. Like if you're out with an NBA player or a celebrity, everyone's 345 00:24:46,140 --> 00:24:48,360 coming over to shake hands and say hello. 346 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:53,360 They had their big table, a bunch of women hanging around, you know. They 347 00:24:53,360 --> 00:24:54,840 definitely the guys you wanted to be around. 348 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,200 But the money comes with a price. 349 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:02,500 Over the past decade, Jamaican officials estimate more than 1 ,000 murders in 350 00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:04,680 the country are lottery -related. 351 00:25:05,380 --> 00:25:12,000 We've seen disagreements among scammers, you know, people stealing each other's 352 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,180 lead lists, and it leads to violence and death. 353 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:22,260 On this day, the anti -lottery task force is targeting a scammer who lives 354 00:25:22,260 --> 00:25:24,020 the hills outside of Montego Bay. 355 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,620 We're heading to a community that is... 356 00:25:27,020 --> 00:25:29,200 plague with lottery scamming activities. 357 00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:36,520 We are not sure of the risk and so we're going to be treating this as 358 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,220 being very volatile. 359 00:25:39,740 --> 00:25:42,680 The target is well known to task force officer. 360 00:25:43,900 --> 00:25:47,940 Just last year, his house was the scene of two murders. 361 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,540 Well, his brother -in -law was shot and killed there and his brother was shot 362 00:25:52,540 --> 00:25:56,480 and killed on the playground over there for the same lottery scamming. 363 00:25:58,290 --> 00:25:59,710 Officers approach the house. 364 00:26:05,310 --> 00:26:07,630 The man is alone and caught off guard. 365 00:26:24,270 --> 00:26:26,510 Task force officers search the house. 366 00:26:30,490 --> 00:26:31,930 The home is nice. 367 00:26:32,230 --> 00:26:33,850 Too nice for this neighborhood. 368 00:26:34,510 --> 00:26:41,170 The size of the house is definitely an indication that this person is 369 00:26:41,170 --> 00:26:44,470 involved in law enforcement. 370 00:26:44,670 --> 00:26:48,110 The decor, the tiles, and so on. 371 00:26:48,450 --> 00:26:51,070 Officers find a thumb drive and a laptop. 372 00:26:51,790 --> 00:26:53,810 But the man's computer isn't working. 373 00:26:56,690 --> 00:26:57,250 The 374 00:26:57,250 --> 00:27:04,370 raid 375 00:27:04,370 --> 00:27:08,010 won't be a success unless officers can find something on the computer. 376 00:27:08,890 --> 00:27:13,250 They detain the man, confiscate his laptop, and prepare to leave. 377 00:27:13,530 --> 00:27:18,150 But before they do, they sweep the house next door, where the man's sister 378 00:27:18,150 --> 00:27:19,150 lives. 379 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:43,080 Officers finally find what they're looking for. The woman's laptop contains 380 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,340 file with hundreds of names and addresses. 381 00:27:50,860 --> 00:27:56,840 but telephone numbers and addresses of persons who died in the United States. 382 00:27:57,460 --> 00:28:03,060 Do you have any reason to have these persons in commission in your position? 383 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:04,560 No, I don't. 384 00:28:05,060 --> 00:28:11,180 Officers also find falsified bank documents, including a fake check for $3 385 00:28:11,180 --> 00:28:14,420 million. We noticed some files here. 386 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:19,820 Bank of America, there's a folder called Bank of America. Do you have a Bank of 387 00:28:19,820 --> 00:28:20,940 America account? 388 00:28:21,420 --> 00:28:26,400 No. Do you have any relation at all with Bank of America? 389 00:28:26,740 --> 00:28:28,120 No. Okay. 390 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:34,000 So let me ask you now, are you involved in law enforcement? 391 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:39,220 If you are involved and you have received money from anyone overseas, we 392 00:28:39,220 --> 00:28:40,220 going to find out. 393 00:28:40,660 --> 00:28:42,940 I want you to be honest with me, right? 394 00:28:45,010 --> 00:28:49,650 Well, being honest with you, I can't. I never do it, but I'm not involved in it. 395 00:28:49,930 --> 00:28:53,810 The woman is a single mother to four young children. 396 00:28:54,070 --> 00:28:56,830 She could face up to four years in prison. 397 00:28:57,110 --> 00:29:00,250 It is sad, and it is not only that. 398 00:29:02,750 --> 00:29:07,250 United States residents are made victims of these activities. 399 00:29:07,470 --> 00:29:10,290 But we have victims right here in Jamaica, you know. 400 00:29:10,590 --> 00:29:14,590 Children are being made victims because of these activities, you know. 401 00:29:14,870 --> 00:29:17,450 And so lottery scamming is really a monster. 402 00:29:18,470 --> 00:29:23,690 Next on American Greed, lottery scammers push American victims to the brink. 403 00:29:24,010 --> 00:29:29,910 One family that was threatened, if they didn't continue to pay, that they 404 00:29:29,910 --> 00:29:30,910 would... 405 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:36,520 They would show up at their house, rape their adult daughter, kill the family. 406 00:29:36,860 --> 00:29:40,340 Are you or a loved one a victim of lottery scammers? 407 00:29:40,780 --> 00:29:47,480 If so, call the Department of Homeland Security's tip line at 1 -866 -DHS -2 408 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:48,480 -ICE. 409 00:29:49,700 --> 00:29:51,720 Want inside information from the show? 410 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:54,220 Join the Greed Social Network. 411 00:29:55,220 --> 00:29:57,760 Like us on American Greed's Facebook page. 412 00:29:58,160 --> 00:29:59,260 We'll be right back. 413 00:30:11,790 --> 00:30:16,290 Back in North Dakota, Steve Little browses through some books in his 414 00:30:16,710 --> 00:30:19,750 They're written by his older brother, Michael. 415 00:30:19,990 --> 00:30:21,550 He liked writing. I was surprised. 416 00:30:21,950 --> 00:30:23,630 I didn't know he had that. 417 00:30:23,890 --> 00:30:28,570 A former engineer and Vietnam veteran, Michael only begins writing after 418 00:30:28,570 --> 00:30:30,770 suffering a stroke in 2004. 419 00:30:31,650 --> 00:30:35,930 The first book was Strange and Mere about his stroke recovery. 420 00:30:36,310 --> 00:30:39,970 The writing is done mostly for fun and to keep occupied. 421 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,360 Michael lives alone in a mobile home in Bismarck. 422 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,440 Social security is his only source of income. 423 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:53,620 In total fixed income, he never did recoup what it actually cost him to 424 00:30:53,620 --> 00:30:54,620 write the books. 425 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:56,220 In September 2015, 426 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:00,940 Steve Little is shocked when he gets an unexpected phone call from his brother. 427 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:03,060 Michael is in jail. 428 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,580 He's accused of collaborating with lottery scammers. 429 00:31:07,340 --> 00:31:10,080 Well, he was acting as a mule for the guy in Jamaica. 430 00:31:10,740 --> 00:31:17,420 He took a taxi to some other lady's house, collected money from her, and 431 00:31:17,420 --> 00:31:18,620 sent it off to Jamaica. 432 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:23,720 Over the past few months, Steve says his brother's mental state has been 433 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:28,260 declining. He says Michael is confused when he's sprung from jail. 434 00:31:29,140 --> 00:31:32,880 He didn't remember any lady. He didn't remember where the money came from. He 435 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:34,040 thought he'd been in a hospital. 436 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:37,040 Worst hospital he'd ever been in. 437 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:41,520 Steve looks into his brother's finances and can't believe what he finds. 438 00:31:41,940 --> 00:31:46,460 Michael hasn't paid any bills in months, and he's been sending his Social 439 00:31:46,460 --> 00:31:49,300 Security checks directly to Jamaica. 440 00:31:50,860 --> 00:31:57,480 Mike would withdraw everything in his account, wire it off to Jamaica, 441 00:31:57,620 --> 00:32:02,540 and then go back to the bank and wonder who had rifled his account. 442 00:32:03,450 --> 00:32:07,970 Steve estimates his brother sends over $10 ,000 to scammers. 443 00:32:08,370 --> 00:32:13,030 A month after the arrest, the brothers make plans to do some grocery shopping. 444 00:32:13,350 --> 00:32:17,270 Steve calls Michael's house to let him know when he's on his way. 445 00:32:18,130 --> 00:32:21,750 Well, there's no answer. Yeah, not a good sign. 446 00:32:22,770 --> 00:32:23,810 Called him again. 447 00:32:24,110 --> 00:32:25,110 No answer. 448 00:32:25,610 --> 00:32:26,790 This is not good. 449 00:32:27,070 --> 00:32:31,510 When Steve arrives at the house, the lights are off, but the front door is 450 00:32:31,510 --> 00:32:32,510 unlocked. 451 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:39,560 I went in and he was sitting in a chair 452 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:45,220 right by the front door in the entryway, gun on the floor 453 00:32:45,220 --> 00:32:51,900 between his legs and, you know, 454 00:32:51,940 --> 00:32:57,000 slumped forward and blood and brains and stuff against the wall. 455 00:32:57,300 --> 00:32:59,880 Michael Little was 68 years old. 456 00:33:01,580 --> 00:33:04,500 If I have a bone to pick with these guys, that's it. 457 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:11,500 They created hope where it didn't really exist, the illusion of hope. 458 00:33:12,380 --> 00:33:15,600 And then they took it away. 459 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:20,080 I'm convinced that he took his life because he lost hope. 460 00:33:20,820 --> 00:33:24,020 Michael Little isn't the only casualty of the scam. 461 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,820 In Texas, prosecutors say a woman hangs herself. 462 00:33:28,460 --> 00:33:31,420 after losing thousands of dollars to Leverett Willock's crew. 463 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:36,300 Other victims are afraid to leave their homes, as scammers threaten them with 464 00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:37,300 physical violence. 465 00:33:37,820 --> 00:33:42,300 Instead of talking about the prize that you're going to win, if you don't keep 466 00:33:42,300 --> 00:33:46,620 sending the money, I'm going to rape your daughters, kill your son. 467 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:51,620 In Harvey, North Dakota, Edna Schmitz's situation is getting worse. 468 00:33:52,460 --> 00:33:56,980 Over the past year, she's sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to Willock's. 469 00:33:57,450 --> 00:34:01,270 But she still needs to send one last payment of $5 ,000. 470 00:34:02,730 --> 00:34:09,590 I had absolutely gotten rid 471 00:34:09,590 --> 00:34:10,770 of everything. 472 00:34:11,530 --> 00:34:13,650 I mean, literally everything. 473 00:34:13,909 --> 00:34:20,469 My CD, my Roth IRAs, my farm rent. 474 00:34:20,830 --> 00:34:26,150 The last source of income she can think of is the two tractors on the family 475 00:34:26,150 --> 00:34:28,989 farm. They're worth about $14 ,000 each. 476 00:34:30,090 --> 00:34:33,929 She heads down to her local bank to see how much money she can get. 477 00:34:34,810 --> 00:34:39,190 Well, then when I went in to try and borrow this money on the tractors, then 478 00:34:39,190 --> 00:34:44,969 they discovered that there was already a loan on those tractors. 479 00:34:47,489 --> 00:34:49,370 So I didn't get that loan. 480 00:34:51,389 --> 00:34:54,989 Fortunately for the Schmitz family, Harvey is a small town. 481 00:34:55,659 --> 00:34:59,580 The loan officer at the bank alerts Edna's son, Jeff. 482 00:34:59,860 --> 00:35:01,240 He actually gave me the paperwork. 483 00:35:01,500 --> 00:35:03,600 He says, here, I just got to show you this, you know. 484 00:35:04,240 --> 00:35:06,140 And I was just shocked. 485 00:35:06,460 --> 00:35:10,720 If they lost the tractors, Jeff says the family farm would be doomed. 486 00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:15,120 I couldn't afford to buy tractors and equipment. It's so expensive now, you 487 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,740 know. And there's not much profit being made. 488 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:19,720 So I've been out of business. 489 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:22,760 Jeff and his sister Lisa confront their mother. 490 00:35:23,240 --> 00:35:24,760 They come right over here then. 491 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:29,100 And she was very hesitant to say anything about it. She kind of didn't 492 00:35:29,100 --> 00:35:34,400 she should really tell me. I said, Mom, this is not real. 493 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,360 It's a scam. I said, it is. 494 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:44,560 But, of course, you know, she had gotten in so far already that 495 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:48,140 she didn't want to believe it wasn't real. 496 00:35:49,460 --> 00:35:53,840 Next on American Greed, the feds drop the hammer on the scammers. 497 00:35:55,260 --> 00:35:57,900 and take a new angle in the ongoing fight. 498 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:01,340 In 499 00:36:01,340 --> 00:36:19,760 June 500 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:20,760 2012, 501 00:36:21,390 --> 00:36:26,150 Edna Schmitz finally stopped sending money to Jamaican scammers, but only 502 00:36:26,150 --> 00:36:27,650 her children intervened. 503 00:36:28,110 --> 00:36:31,230 She's lost nearly $400 ,000. 504 00:36:32,130 --> 00:36:34,670 What in the hell was I thinking? 505 00:36:35,550 --> 00:36:42,550 I wasn't thinking. I can't even believe it. I mean, would you actually be that 506 00:36:42,550 --> 00:36:49,210 stupid? They convinced her to do these things that are just 507 00:36:49,210 --> 00:36:50,270 not even. 508 00:36:51,350 --> 00:36:54,010 Not even in her personality at all. 509 00:36:54,350 --> 00:36:59,390 You know, wire transfers. And I remember one for $57 ,000. 510 00:36:59,790 --> 00:37:05,330 And I thought, oh my God, my mother would never, never in a million years 511 00:37:05,330 --> 00:37:09,010 she write out a check for $57 ,000. 512 00:37:09,610 --> 00:37:13,450 The family informs the federal authorities, who open an investigation. 513 00:37:14,090 --> 00:37:17,770 Fortunately for the FBI, the scammers are still calling Edna. 514 00:37:18,230 --> 00:37:20,650 The FBI records her phone conversations. 515 00:37:21,330 --> 00:37:25,490 So what happened about the check? Did they get the check clear? 516 00:37:25,910 --> 00:37:28,350 No. That's a $5 ,000? Yeah. 517 00:37:28,670 --> 00:37:30,970 I don't know what we're going to do now. 518 00:37:31,670 --> 00:37:36,590 Using Edna's case as a starting point, the feds expand the investigation. 519 00:37:37,050 --> 00:37:40,530 And that led to all the information, all the people we were able to arrest. 520 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:42,920 Other information we were able to gather. 521 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,500 That's how they were able to identify the victims. 522 00:37:45,720 --> 00:37:48,160 They found victims all over the United States. 523 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:53,240 Their digging eventually leads them to Leverick Willocks and the man who 524 00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:55,520 the lead lists, Sanjay Williams. 525 00:37:56,580 --> 00:37:59,400 I don't know how many lists he bought from Sanjay. 526 00:37:59,900 --> 00:38:05,400 I think the investigation showed about $40 ,000 worth of lists. 527 00:38:05,720 --> 00:38:10,280 And bear in mind that Leverick Willocks is just one of hundreds of Sanjay's 528 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:15,800 customers. The Department of Justice says victim losses to the men are at 529 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:17,620 $5 .5 million. 530 00:38:18,740 --> 00:38:24,300 Edna is one of 80 -plus victims or more. We have victims who lost a few hundred 531 00:38:24,300 --> 00:38:30,860 or a few thousand dollars. We had one that lost $850 ,000 that we know of. 532 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:36,260 In June 2013, Sanjay Williams is arrested when he makes a trip to North 533 00:38:36,260 --> 00:38:40,520 Carolina. Two years later, he's put on trial in North Dakota. 534 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:43,740 Edna Schmitz testifies in the case. 535 00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:48,460 People were amazed at the heroism of the people who came forward, who were 536 00:38:48,460 --> 00:38:51,820 willing to talk about the fact that they were victims in this. 537 00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:58,920 And my mother, you know, is just this little farm lady, and she's, you know, 538 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:00,360 taking down these people. 539 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:06,320 After a week -long trial, Sanjay Williams is found guilty of conspiracy, 540 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:07,660 fraud, and money laundering. 541 00:39:08,240 --> 00:39:13,420 He's currently chilling in a federal prison in New Jersey, serving a 20 -year 542 00:39:13,420 --> 00:39:14,420 sentence. 543 00:39:15,940 --> 00:39:20,800 He's the first lead list seller successfully tried in the United States. 544 00:39:21,140 --> 00:39:22,580 Hopefully not the last. 545 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:27,620 Federal prosecutors in Bismarck indict more than 30 people connected to the 546 00:39:27,620 --> 00:39:33,540 scam. Eleven are arrested and take plea deals, including Rita, the woman who 547 00:39:33,540 --> 00:39:34,740 smuggled cash in her bra. 548 00:39:35,560 --> 00:39:37,140 She's awaiting sentencing. 549 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:38,360 I made a mistake. 550 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:39,980 I made a huge mistake. 551 00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:44,420 To this day, Rita insists she didn't know she was helping a lottery scam. 552 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:50,820 Now knowing the details of who was harmed in this is probably the biggest 553 00:39:50,820 --> 00:39:53,280 in my life. It just makes me emotional every time I think about it. 554 00:39:53,720 --> 00:39:58,570 As for Leverick Willocks... He is officially charged with mail fraud, wire 555 00:39:58,570 --> 00:40:02,410 fraud, and conspiracy to commit international money laundering. 556 00:40:02,850 --> 00:40:07,750 U .S. officials are working to have him and other members of his crew arrested 557 00:40:07,750 --> 00:40:08,950 and extradited. 558 00:40:09,270 --> 00:40:11,050 But it's a complicated process. 559 00:40:12,110 --> 00:40:17,310 We are taking all the steps that we can, using the tools available to see that 560 00:40:17,310 --> 00:40:19,490 those people were not in the United States. 561 00:40:19,850 --> 00:40:21,990 are in fact brought to justice at some point. 562 00:40:22,630 --> 00:40:26,930 Extraditions, you know, take time because of all the legal hurdles that 563 00:40:26,930 --> 00:40:27,769 to overcome. 564 00:40:27,770 --> 00:40:31,910 But we are crossing those T's and dotting those I's to try to get as many 565 00:40:31,910 --> 00:40:32,930 extraditions as we can. 566 00:40:33,250 --> 00:40:35,070 In February 2015, 567 00:40:35,830 --> 00:40:41,110 the U .S. successfully extradites their first Jamaican lottery scammer, a man 568 00:40:41,110 --> 00:40:43,750 unrelated to the Lambert Willocks group. 569 00:40:45,050 --> 00:40:48,590 Jamaican officials say they hope to assist with several more. 570 00:40:48,970 --> 00:40:55,910 We have actually encouraged our U .S. law 571 00:40:55,910 --> 00:41:02,010 enforcement agencies to go for extradition, and we're working on a 572 00:41:02,010 --> 00:41:03,970 a pipeline of possible extradition. 573 00:41:04,250 --> 00:41:09,310 In addition to increased law enforcement, the Jamaican government has 574 00:41:09,310 --> 00:41:10,950 public education campaign. 575 00:41:11,500 --> 00:41:17,920 MOCA officers regularly speak to kids in schools, while radio and TV PSAs fill 576 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:18,920 the airwaves. 577 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:22,680 I 578 00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:31,480 think 579 00:41:31,480 --> 00:41:36,180 you have to take a multi -pronged approach to combating it. We have to... 580 00:41:37,580 --> 00:41:41,860 Emphasize that this is not a victimless crime, that it is, in fact, a very cruel 581 00:41:41,860 --> 00:41:47,860 crime. Connect to them, would you like your grandmother or your grandfather to 582 00:41:47,860 --> 00:41:49,220 be the victim? 583 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:53,100 Education is also important on the U .S. side of the issue. 584 00:41:53,300 --> 00:41:59,380 Federal agents say they can't stop the scam until American citizens stop 585 00:41:59,380 --> 00:42:00,380 for it. 586 00:42:00,830 --> 00:42:03,890 It's not something that law enforcement alone can stop. 587 00:42:04,170 --> 00:42:07,130 It's going to take a joint effort. It's going to take citizens. 588 00:42:07,450 --> 00:42:08,710 It's going to take governments. 589 00:42:09,110 --> 00:42:12,110 Have you tried to talk to your elderly loved ones or your parents about their 590 00:42:12,110 --> 00:42:16,670 finances? It's not easy. Have that tough financial conversation because it's 591 00:42:16,670 --> 00:42:20,150 better to have it and have a small dust up now than have it when they've lost 592 00:42:20,150 --> 00:42:22,570 their life savings. And I've seen it. I just feel like. 593 00:42:23,410 --> 00:42:27,950 America needs to know what's going on. Elderly people need to know what's going 594 00:42:27,950 --> 00:42:30,850 on. Educate your grandparents. 595 00:42:31,290 --> 00:42:35,430 This needs to be put out there so more people know about it.