A Jamaican man pleaded guilty in a romance and lottery scheme that targeted an elderly Arizona resident.
Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie, 40, was indicted back in March 2022 and extradited to the United States on June 12, 2025, for prosecution, according to a news release from the United States Attorney's Office District of Arizona.
Bellinfantie admitted in his plea agreement that from December 2015 to January 2019, he and his co-conspirators targeted an 85-year-old Arizona resident in schemes that ranged from romance to sweepstakes, the release said.
They pretended to be romantically involved with the woman by sending flowers and messages to her home, according to the release.
In another scheme, the scammers led her to believe that she had won the lottery and a new car, the release said. Bellinfantie told the woman that in order to claim the prizes, she would have to pay fees and taxes, according to the release.
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The woman would then mail funds to different locations across the country and transfer money to various people, the release said. Bellinfante confessed that he received a portion of the money from the schemes.
Bellinfantie agreed to pay woman in restitution, as she lost around $469,302, the release said.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Phoenix division's Tucson office. The U.S. Attorney's Office District of Arizona, Tucson will be handling the prosecution, according to the release.
