A New York City man will spend three years in prison for his role in a bogus sweepstakes fraud that tricked elderly victims into paying cash in exchange for a large cash prize they never got. Scott Gammon, 48, of Howard Beach, took part in the scam between from 2014 to 2019. He must also forfeit nearly $140,000, said U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack, reports the New York Daily News. Two others have pleaded guilty in the scheme. Gammon and his codefendants mailed out thousands of prize notices, promising a big cash reward — provided the “winner” pay a fee first, prosecutors said. The victims sent in their fees, but got no prize in return. Inspector in Charge Daniel Brubaker of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said, “Unfortunately, for those who participated, they realized too late that they had been swindled. When a prize did not materialize, and their money was not returned, they became victims ... If you’re asked to pay for a prize you didn’t enter to win, it’s a scam.”
“Financially exploiting the elderly and other victims through fraudulent prize schemes is a form of abuse and deserving of punishment as today’s sentence demonstrates,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “A term in prison should deter others from preying on the vulnerable.” Gammon’s lawyer, Peter Tomao, described him as a kind-hearted family man lured by the prospect of fast cash, insisting he played only a “minor role. “While Scott clearly admits that he conspired with others to send prize notices which he knew were false to people around the country in order to mislead them to pay fees for nothing, his own role was limited,” said Tomao.