Jamaican woman extradited to US over alleged lottery-scamming scheme in Kentucky
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A 29-year-old Jamaican woman has been extradited to the United States to answer allegations that she was part of a lottery-scamming scheme that bilked elderly residents of a county in Kentucky out of US$80,000.
Jenel Rowe was returned to the United States on Thursday, August 20, by US Marshals and taken into custody in Tennessee.
She must go through the extradition process before being returned to Kentucky.
She, along with five others, has been accused of participating in a lottery scam.
US law enforcement authorities said they have linked Rowe and the others to a scheme in which Graves County residents received letters telling them that they had won US$250 million.
They reported that they were able to trace payments by alleged victims to an account connected to Rowe.
According to the authorities, letters were sent to victims telling them that they had won US$250 million but needed to send payments for what was described as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fees.
An arrest warrant outlined that some of those payments were directed to Rowe’s account.
The sheriff’s office in Graves County began an investigation in 2025 after learning that local residents had been targeted through the mail.
The letters told them that they were winners of an enormous lottery prize.
According to the sheriff’s office, the demand for money came later.
The victims were told that they needed to cover taxes before collecting their winnings.
Law enforcement determined that the promised prize did not exist and began following the payments and identifying people they believed were involved.
The investigation led beyond Kentucky and involved Florida and Jamaica.
According to law enforcement, victims were told to deposit money into an account belonging to Rowe as part of the supposed tax payment process.
Rowe is known to have ties in both Florida and Jamaica, according to law enforcement.
Law enforcement authorities are asking anyone who received such letters to contact their financial institutions to find out whether the transaction can be stopped.
Persons have also been asked to preserve the letters, deposit instructions, receipts and communications for investigators.
Law enforcement said that three other suspects are already in custody and are awaiting court appearances, while other accused persons have been identified.
- Lester Hinds
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