Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican man from Hanover, has been extradited to the United States to face eight counts of wire fraud. Anderson made his first appearance in a South Dakota court on Tuesday, following his extradition on August 22. The charges against him were filed in the US District Court for the District of South Dakota in February 2023 and were unsealed upon his extradition. If convicted, Anderson could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud.
According to court documents, Anderson was involved in a fraudulent scheme targeting a California woman over several years. The scheme, which allegedly began in 2010 and continued until September 2017, involved Anderson using fake names to contact the victim through phone calls, text messages, and emails. He falsely claimed that the woman had won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes and convinced her to send money to cover various fees and taxes associated with the supposed winnings.
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The allegations state that Anderson repeatedly contacted the woman with additional requests for money, continually promising that her winnings would be delivered once she paid the requested amounts. In September 2017, he allegedly convinced the victim to travel to Jamaica under the pretense of collecting her prize. Anderson reportedly instructed her to bring $1,600 in cash and give it to a driver who met her at the airport. Despite paying the fees, the woman never received any prize money.
Anderson was arrested by Jamaican authorities on July 11, following a request for extradition from the United States. He remained in custody in Jamaica until his extradition in August.
US authorities have expressed their gratitude to the Jamaica Constabulary Force for their significant role in Anderson’s arrest and subsequent extradition, which allowed him to be brought to justice in the United States. The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat international fraud schemes and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies across borders.
