New Haven: Richard Murray Charged in Elder Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme

A Jamaican national was arraigned in New Haven federal court in February 2026 on charges that he participated in a sweepstakes fraud scheme that mailed fake Publishers Clearing House winning notifications and fraudulent IRS tax letters to elderly victims across the United States, convincing them to send payments for fictional taxes and fees.

Richard Murray, 31, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector on February 12, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to five federal counts. He had been arrested January 22, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia, where he was located by investigators. Murray remains in federal custody.

Indictment Returned in 2024 After Years of Investigation

A federal grand jury in New Haven returned the indictment against Murray on April 16, 2024. The indictment charges him with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which investigates crimes involving the misuse of the mail system, led the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

How the Scam Worked

According to the indictment, Murray and co-conspirators contacted elderly victims by telephone to tell them they had won a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes prize. They then mailed victims fake winning notification letters bearing the Publishers Clearing House name and fraudulent letters purportedly from the IRS, claiming the victims were legally required to pay taxes on their winnings before the money could be released.

Victims, believing they had won a legitimate prize, sent cash, checks, or money orders to addresses controlled by the conspirators. Publishers Clearing House, a real sweepstakes company, had no involvement in the fraudulent scheme; its name and reputation were impersonated to make the operation appear legitimate.

The scheme is alleged to have operated since at least 2018, targeting elderly Americans across the country and defrauding victims of millions of dollars in total.

'Money Mules' Laundered the Funds

Once victims sent payments, the conspirators employed networks of "money mules" — individuals recruited to move the money — to launder the proceeds. Some money mules were themselves fraud victims who had been deceived into participating without fully understanding their role. The funds were moved through multiple bank accounts registered under different company names.

Murray and his co-conspirators then provided ATM cards linked to those U.S. bank accounts to associates in Jamaica, who withdrew the funds. The multi-jurisdictional structure of the scheme — with operations in the United States and money flowing to Jamaica — is what triggered federal jurisdiction and involvement of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Elder Fraud Is a Growing National Problem

Sweepstakes and lottery scams targeting seniors are among the most common forms of elder fraud in the United States. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that older Americans lost more than $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, with lottery and prize scams among the top categories by financial loss. Jamaica-based sweepstakes fraud operations targeting U.S. elderly residents have drawn sustained federal attention for more than a decade.

Criminal charges are accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A trial date in the Murray case had not been publicly announced as of March 2026.

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