Two Florida Residents Charged In Jamaican Lottery Scheme

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the filing of a criminal complaint and arrests of Yanique Chantel Coach (25, Orlando) and Dwayne Breary (31, Ft. Lauderdale) for conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. 

According to the complaint, in October and November 2014, an 89-year-old woman in Virginia received phone calls from two individuals who claimed that she had won $3.5 million from the Mega Millions Sweepstakes.  One of the callers said he was associated with the Mega Millions Sweepstakes and the other purported to be an attorney.  The callers told the victim that her name had been entered into the lottery through a magazine subscription, but that she needed to pay fees and taxes before she could receive her winnings.  From October 31, 2014, through November 25, 2014, the victim complied with the directions from the Mega Millions Sweepstakes callers and mailed $282,600 in cash to various locations in Florida and Georgia. She concealed the money in magazines and cereal boxes.

After the learning about the large withdrawals of money, the victim’s family contacted the FBI.  On March 6, 2015, the victim was instructed by the callers to send $150,000 to an apartment in Orlando.  On March 19, 2015, FBI agents conducted a controlled delivery of a UPS package, appearing to be from the victim, to the apartment.  Agents had determined the apartment belonged to Coach. During surveillance, Breary signed for the package, using an alias, and accepted it.  Agents then executed a search warrant and recovered the package from Coach’s bedroom.           

Further investigation revealed that Coach and Breary had accepted the previously sent packages by signing a fake name.  An individual from Jamaica then travelled to Florida to retrieve the cash. Coach and Breary were paid for their part in the scheme by that individual, who then returned to Jamaica with the victim’s money.  

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.                  

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James D. Mandolfo.