US trial of man charged in Jamaican lottery scam winds down; jury begins deliberating

BISMARCK, N.D. _ A federal jury in North Dakota is deciding the fate of a man accused in a Jamaican lottery scam that authorities say cost victims around the country millions of dollars.

Attorneys Tuesday morning gave closing arguments in U.S. District Court in Bismarck in the case of 25-year-old Sanjay Williams, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, after about a week of testimony. He’s charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

Authorities say the scam bilked mostly elderly and vulnerable citizens out of their savings.

Defence attorney Charlie Stock said in his closing argument to jurors that the case isn’t about sympathy, but about evidence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Clare Hochhalter told jurors that investigators reviewed more than 500,000 documents, including 50,000 emails from Williams.

The case went to the jury shortly before noon.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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