Bronx Woman Sentenced In Nationwide Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly

Press Release Bronx Woman Sentenced In Nationwide Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to 51 months in prison for perpetrating a multi-year scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, which resulted in losses of over $1.6 million to more than 20 victims. GIBBS pled guilty in September 2025 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud.“Fraudsters who prey on our most vulnerable must be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s sentence reinforces that message.”According to the Superseding Indictment and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:From at least 2019 through at least 2023, GIBBS and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the “Elder Fraud Scheme”), through which GIBBS and her co-conspirators defrauded more than 20 elderly victims of more than $1.6 million. Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name—e.g., “Robert James,” “Robert Hill,” or “Mark Miller”—claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize. The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings. In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, Vanilla Visa gift cards, and cash concealed in books, as well as by wire and Zelle transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller. After luring in victims with the sweepstakes lie, the perpetrators of the Elder Fraud Scheme also used romance scam tactics to induce victims to continue making payments.Of the more than $1.6 million lost by victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme, at least $1,379,402 went to Gibbs, or accounts belonging to or controlled by Gibbs. Gibbs, a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, participated in the scheme from both New York and Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica. Gibbs used proceeds obtained from victims to, among other things, fund a clothing business she started called “Fairy’s Crown” and make numerous purchases of luxury items.After her arrest, Gibbs twice met with federal law enforcement officers and falsely denied participating in the Elder Fraud Scheme and claimed to be a victim of the scheme. For example, on each occasion, Gibbs falsely told law enforcement officers that she had received calls from men named “Simon” and “Peter” saying that she had won an $8.5 million prize and that she was given instructions to pay taxes required to receive the money. Gibbs also falsely stated that she believed the money she had received from actual victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme was money from “sponsors” who were helping her pay taxes to obtain her sweepstakes prize.* * *In addition to the prison term, GIBBS, 31, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $1,018,703, and restitution of $1,379,402.Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Division. Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in the investigation.This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander and Margaret Vasu are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated January 7, 2026 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 26-002

Press Release Bronx Woman Sentenced In Nationwide Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to 51 months in prison for perpetrating a multi-year scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, which resulted in losses of over $1.6 million to more than 20 victims. GIBBS pled guilty in September 2025 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud.“Fraudsters who prey on our most vulnerable must be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s sentence reinforces that message.”According to the Superseding Indictment and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:From at least 2019 through at least 2023, GIBBS and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the “Elder Fraud Scheme”), through which GIBBS and her co-conspirators defrauded more than 20 elderly victims of more than $1.6 million. Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name—e.g., “Robert James,” “Robert Hill,” or “Mark Miller”—claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize. The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings. In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, Vanilla Visa gift cards, and cash concealed in books, as well as by wire and Zelle transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller. After luring in victims with the sweepstakes lie, the perpetrators of the Elder Fraud Scheme also used romance scam tactics to induce victims to continue making payments.Of the more than $1.6 million lost by victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme, at least $1,379,402 went to Gibbs, or accounts belonging to or controlled by Gibbs. Gibbs, a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, participated in the scheme from both New York and Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica. Gibbs used proceeds obtained from victims to, among other things, fund a clothing business she started called “Fairy’s Crown” and make numerous purchases of luxury items.After her arrest, Gibbs twice met with federal law enforcement officers and falsely denied participating in the Elder Fraud Scheme and claimed to be a victim of the scheme. For example, on each occasion, Gibbs falsely told law enforcement officers that she had received calls from men named “Simon” and “Peter” saying that she had won an $8.5 million prize and that she was given instructions to pay taxes required to receive the money. Gibbs also falsely stated that she believed the money she had received from actual victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme was money from “sponsors” who were helping her pay taxes to obtain her sweepstakes prize.* * *In addition to the prison term, GIBBS, 31, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $1,018,703, and restitution of $1,379,402.Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Division. Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in the investigation.This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander and Margaret Vasu are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated January 7, 2026 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 26-002