Jamaican Citizen Sentenced to 46 Months for Defrauding Elderly Albany Couple

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kevin R. Palmer, age 37, a Jamaican citizen residing in Suwanee, Georgia, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for stealing more than $320,000 from an elderly Albany couple in a mail-based prize scam.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Joseph Cronin, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Boston Division.

In March 2019, Palmer pled guilty to 1 count of mail fraud conspiracy and 12 counts of mail fraud.  He admitted that in 2017, an elderly couple residing in Albany County was contacted through the mail and by telephone, and was told that they needed to send money in order to obtain an inheritance and tax refund, and claim lottery and sweepstakes prize money.

As instructed, the husband and wife mailed bank checks to addresses in Georgia, including Palmer’s address.  They mailed a total of 12 checks; 10 of these checks were payable to Palmer, and all 12 were deposited into bank accounts for which Palmer was a signatory.  Palmer admitted that his role in the fraudulent scheme was to receive checks sent by the couple, deposit them, and distribute the proceeds (totaling $321,342) among the participants to the scheme.  At sentencing, he admitted to keeping 10 to 15 percent of the fraud proceeds for himself, and sending the remainder to co-conspirators overseas. 

Palmer also admitted that in 2010, while residing in New York City, he committed a similar scam, fraudulently obtaining money from victims who were led to falsely believe they had won the lottery or a sweepstakes.  Palmer pled guilty to a misdemeanor in Queens County Criminal Court and served a 90-day jail sentence. 

In sentencing Palmer, Judge D’Agostino specifically found that he preyed upon vulnerable victims, and knew or reasonably should have known that they were vulnerable.  “You are the worst kind of defendant in my eyes,” she told Palmer, because he had been imprisoned for committing a scheme to defraud in 2010, but was undeterred and went on to participate in the 2017 scam.

Judge D’Agostino ordered Palmer to pay restitution in the amount of $321,342.  Additionally, as a result of his guilty plea, Palmer’s lawful status in the United States may be revoked, and he may be removed to Jamaica. 

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.

Fraudsters routinely use the U.S. Mail to falsely inform victims that they have to pay “fees” or “taxes” in order to receive a tax refund, lottery or sweepstakes prize, or inheritance.  These scams often target the elderly.  To learn how to detect and avoid these scams, please visit the web site of the Federal Trade Commission, at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0199-prize-scams.