FARGO, N.D. – A man described by U.S. authorities as the ringleader of a lottery scam that bilked at least 70 people out of millions of dollars has been arrested in Jamaica.
A news release from the Jamaica Constabulary Force says 27-year-old Lavrick Willocks was taken into custody Saturday after he was found hiding in a garden at a Kingston hotel. Authorities say a woman who tried to help him escape was also arrested.
Willocks faces numerous charges in U.S. federal court, including conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. The process to extradite him began three years ago.
The case wound up in North Dakota after a FBI agent from Bismarck interviewed a Harvey woman who said she was defrauded out of $300,000.
Willocks is expected to appear Tuesday in a Jamaican court.
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