DOJ: Extradited Jamaican Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Lottery Scam

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Federal prosecutors in Michigan announced on Oct. 16 that Sefton Olivair Stewart, also known as “Powa,” 41, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan said Stewart was involved in a nationwide scheme that falsely told victims they had won large lottery prizes and luxury vehicles.

According to prosecutors, the scheme obtained $3.4 million from 28 victims and used fake bank and U.S. government documents. The Justice Department said the conduct ran from October 2019 through September 2024, and that Stewart pleaded guilty after being extradited to Grand Rapids in July 2026.

What prosecutors said happened

The federal announcement describes a familiar but damaging fraud pattern: victims were told they had won prizes, then were drawn into a process built around false paperwork and demands connected to the supposed winnings. Prosecutors said the victims were spread across multiple states, making this more than a local scam case.

The Justice Department also said Stewart will be removed from the United States after serving his prison sentence. That is a criminal-justice outcome, not a recovery guarantee for people who lost money.

The player lesson: a prize notice is not proof

For lottery players, the practical warning is simple: a message saying you won is not the same thing as a verified prize claim. Real claims are handled through official lottery channels, and players should independently check any prize through the lottery that runs the game before sharing personal information or sending money.

Red flags include:

  • Being told you won a lottery or promotion you do not remember entering.
  • Pressure to pay fees, taxes, insurance, shipping, or processing charges before receiving a prize.
  • Documents that look official but arrive from unfamiliar contacts.
  • Instructions to keep the prize secret or act immediately.
  • Requests for wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or bank-account access.

If a suspicious prize message arrives, slow down. Save the message, do not click unknown links, and contact the official lottery or law-enforcement reporting channel directly using a website or phone number you find yourself. LotteryWarrior has covered related scam warnings before, including how “you won” messages can escalate into payment demands in this earlier scam-compensation update.

My Take

I think this case shows why lottery-scam coverage needs to stay repetitive, even when the warning signs feel obvious to experienced players. The core trick is not complicated, but the pressure, fake documents, and promise of life-changing money can make a scam feel official in the moment.

The strongest counterargument is that prosecutions like this may reassure the public that the system is working. That is partly fair: a prison sentence after extradition is a serious enforcement result. But my view is that enforcement happens after the damage is done, while prevention has to happen before a player sends money, documents, or account access.

LotteryWarrior Take: Treat every unexpected prize notice as unverified until you confirm it through the official lottery that supposedly issued it. If someone says you must pay first to collect, stop and check before taking another step. Have you talked with family members or lottery-pool partners about what to do if a suspicious “winner” message shows up?

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