N.Y. man pleads guilty in bogus lottery scheme

Apr 11, 2016, 5:45 am (10 comments)

Scam Alert

A West Hempstead, New York, man pleaded guilty to federal charges in a Boston courtroom Friday in connection with his role in a fake lottery scam targeting senior citizens.

Wilder Vladimir Merelan, 29, admitted he helped scheme to victimize people ranging in age from 69 to 91 between 2012 and 2015, according to the Massachusetts U.S. attorney's office.

The victims were told they had won millions in a lottery but had to pay taxes first to the Internal Revenue Service before they could get their share of the money, prosecutors said.

Sixteen people sent more than $830,000 to Merelan, who the victims were told was a "sub agent" for the IRS, according to prosecutors. Merelan kept part of the money and distributed the rest to his co-conspirators, including people in Jamaica, where authorities said the scam appears to have roots.

Several elderly residents, including one from Massachusetts, told authorities they received a call from a Jamaica-based phone number alerting them to their purported winnings.

Merelan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit tax and mail fraud.

The charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, plus 3 years of supervised release and a fine of at least $250,000.

Merelan is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10.

Newsday, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

myturn's avatarmyturn

This is exactly why I support state lotteries, if we didn't have legal lotteries, we would have many more illegal lotteries.

music*'s avatarmusic*

 You just cannot trust anybody these days.

sully16's avatarsully16

Never ending supply of human garbage.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Apr 11, 2016

 You just cannot trust anybody these days.

Too bad they don't make him pay for his upkeep in prison instead of the taxpayers who get screwed once again.

 

Personally I'd be happy if he were forced to repay all the monies and placed on probation.

LiveInGreenBay's avatarLiveInGreenBay

Hey Vladimir when you see hot sauce...Say hi.  Bash

noise-gate

Don't drop the soap while you in there Vlad or your name could be changed to " Vlad the Impaled!"

Tony Numbers's avatarTony Numbers

There wouldn't be any scammers it there were no suckers. 330,000 collected. Just imagine how much charities and the IRS are stealing.

cbr$'s avatarcbr$
Any person that scams or target the elderly any way, such be when the 
authorities get them real in my opinion get the maximum sentence allow.
Just last week, I pick up the phone they had a automatic service caller which only said the IRS is looking for you. It then tell you to call the numbers they 
give. [ think about this a minute there are a lot of you out there. Machine didn't
give the last name it wanted.] So, I called the telephone number. When I get
a person I was polite. I tell the Lady your, automatic machine called my home.
Exactly how can I help you. She asked for the phone number. I hear what sound
someone push the keys. The next question could you give me a name. STOP!
[think again the real IRS is going call out the person last name.] They called 
you. ] the lady said, we are the IRS. we want to a taxpayer in that household.
{all the time I'm thinking to my self is this chick for real.} Miss you called my
house I don't call your. If you real are the IRS. you should been able to tell who you're look for even to left a message for them to contact you. The are four Taxpayers in our home all don't have the same last name, so now which
one do you want. It this point you could got the wrong number. The woman get tea total upset with me. IT was at this point that I threat to give the 
telephone number to the real authorities & make a complaint. That when the 
woman became very up set . She hang up. I called right back, for 2 day the
line stay busy. On the 3 day , that number was no longer in service. 
LOTTOKING2016

Lotto officials needs to be sentenced to 20 years of jail for conspiring and rigging and looting people for years

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by cbr$ on Apr 11, 2016

Any person that scams or target the elderly any way, such be when the 
authorities get them real in my opinion get the maximum sentence allow.
Just last week, I pick up the phone they had a automatic service caller which only said the IRS is looking for you. It then tell you to call the numbers they 
give. [ think about this a minute there are a lot of you out there. Machine didn't
give the last name it wanted.] So, I called the telephone number. When I get
a person I was polite. I tell the Lady your, automatic machine called my home.
Exactly how can I help you. She asked for the phone number. I hear what sound
someone push the keys. The next question could you give me a name. STOP!
[think again the real IRS is going call out the person last name.] They called 
you. ] the lady said, we are the IRS. we want to a taxpayer in that household.
{all the time I'm thinking to my self is this chick for real.} Miss you called my
house I don't call your. If you real are the IRS. you should been able to tell who you're look for even to left a message for them to contact you. The are four Taxpayers in our home all don't have the same last name, so now which
one do you want. It this point you could got the wrong number. The woman get tea total upset with me. IT was at this point that I threat to give the 
telephone number to the real authorities & make a complaint. That when the 
woman became very up set . She hang up. I called right back, for 2 day the
line stay busy. On the 3 day , that number was no longer in service. 

I too had a message stating, from the same woman, on the answering machine stating this is the last time the IRS will call you.  To call back in such and such a #.  This time I played along as long as I could.  He gave me a fake name and badge # which I wrote down and I gave him a fake name as well.  Said I owe $2421.35 for 2001 taxes and how could I pay it.  He suggested electronic payment and this fool said someone will come by your home to get the check.  Right, that defeats an electronic check I say to myself.  Said i wasn't home.  I then couldn't take it anymore, asked my taxpayer #.  He started with I. R. M. then I hung up.  Next time I will spell out in phoenetic Englis:h Sierra Charlie Alpha Mike!!

End of comments
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