Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With Lottery Fraud

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Horace Anthony Buddle, 45, of Brooklyn, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that the defendant defrauded elderly individuals residing in the United States by leading the victims to believe they won cash prizes of more than $1,000,000 and, in at least one case, a Mercedes Benz automobile. The victims were told they must pay “taxes” and other administrative expenses in order to collect their “prizes.” 
 
One victim, a man from the Rochester, N.Y. area, was told numerous times, in phone calls, to send packages of money to an address in Brooklyn. As a result, the victim sent 16 packages via UPS and the U.S. Mail to the defendants’ residence in Brooklyn.
 
Another victim, a resident of Missouri, was directed to deposit money into the accounts of co-defendant Corey Buddle who is the defendant’s son. None of the victims received anything as a result of their “winnings.”
 
 Charges are pending against Corey Buddle. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The plea is the result of an investigation on the part of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge James Buthorn, Boston Division, and Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.