A Jamaican man has pleaded guilty for his role in a lottery fraud that took at least $3.4 million from more than two dozen Americans, according to prosecutors.
Sefton Stewart, 40, entered a guilty plea in federal court after investigators tied him to a scheme that targeted vulnerable people across the United States. He faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison when sentenced by United States District Judge Paul Maloney. Authorities say the operation reached victims in multiple states and relied on convincing but false paperwork to extract payments.
Court filings describe a conspiracy running from October 2019 through September 2024 in which Stewart, Danielle Diarbakerly, and others told people they had won large cash prizes and luxury vehicles in a multistate lottery. Victims were told they needed to pay taxes and fees to claim their winnings, a requirement that was entirely fabricated. The conspirators used fake bank and purported government documents to make the scam seem official and to pressure victims into wiring money.
At least 25 victims lost funds in the scheme and the total taken topped $3.4 million, prosecutors say. A sizeable portion of the stolen money was routed to Jamaica, where Stewart lived and where key steps of the fraud were carried out. One victim from West Michigan helped bring the case to federal prosecutors, which led to charges in Grand Rapids.
Danielle Diarbakerly, a Florida resident and co-conspirator, pleaded guilty in August 2025 to conspiring to launder proceeds from the scheme and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for her role. U.S. Attorney VerHey, who handled that prosecution, tied Diarbakerly’s case to the broader conspiracy now culminating in Stewart’s plea. Prosecutors say the network coordinated roles that ranged from recruiting victims to handling finances and facilitating international transfers.
“This defendant helped operate a scheme that preyed on some of our most vulnerable citizens. Today’s guilty plea is an important step toward justice for the victims and demonstrates our commitment to holding international fraudsters accountable,” said U.S. Attorney VerHey.
Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation led the probe alongside other law enforcement partners, according to court announcements. “Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting the public from transnational criminal organizations that target vulnerable individuals through complex fraud schemes,” said Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Scott Bauer, Grand Rapids Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “This case demonstrates the importance of international cooperation and the dedication of our agents to pursue justice for victims, no matter where the perpetrators may reside. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who exploit innocent people are held accountable.”
Stewart was extradited from Jamaica to Grand Rapids, Michigan by the U.S. Marshals Service in March 2026 and has been detained since his arrival. Officials note that after completing any federal sentence, Stewart will be deported from the United States. The case underscores how international fraud rings can operate across borders while targeting everyday Americans.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kuszynski of IRS Criminal Investigation emphasized the motive behind the scheme. “The defendant in today’s announcement and their prosecuted co-conspirator share one trait in common – greed,” he said. “This desire for money, along with the power and material items it buys, drove them to commit crimes against many of the vulnerable in our society. Thanks to the financial expertise and diligence of IRS-CI special agents, who worked side-by-side with our law enforcement partners to uncover these schemes, these criminals are facing the consequences of their actions.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit continue to investigate financial trails and international connections tied to the fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris O’Connor is handling the prosecution of Stewart in federal court. Prosecutors intend to demonstrate how coordinated deception, false documents, and international transfers were used to victimize people over several years.
Investigators encourage vigilance around unsolicited prize notices and requests for upfront taxes or fees, noting those are common red flags in advance-fee frauds. The criminal filings in this prosecution provide a detailed timeline of contact and transfers that prosecutors say will form the backbone of their case at sentencing. As federal authorities press forward, the case remains an example of cross-border law enforcement work focused on protecting elderly and otherwise vulnerable citizens from financial exploitation.
