PITTSBURGH, PA. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Western), published as received.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A citizen of the United Kingdom and Jamaica illegally residing in Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Nicole Lamont, 32, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville on May 20, 2026.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Lamont participated in a “lottery scam” in which elderly victims were contacted by telephone and falsely informed they had won a sweepstakes, often totaling millions of dollars, and then directed to send money in the form of checks, cash, money orders, and/or wires to pay purported taxes due on their winnings.
Specifically, Lamont received funds directly from at least three members of the lottery scam, deposited them into her bank account, and made the funds available to other members of the conspiracy who were located in Jamaica.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for September 17, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Court continued Lamont’s detention pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lamont.
