Sunday, March 17, 2019

Powhatan County preacher indicted in Jamaican telemarketing scheme targeting seniors

A Powhatan County preacher who authorities suspect of being part of Jamaican Sweepstakes telemarketing scheme responsible for swindling senior citizens across the nation out of at least $153,000 has been indicted on charges of stealing $51,000 from a Portsmouth woman.

The telemarketing scam was used to convince the 86-year-old woman she had won $2.5 million in cash and a 2017 Mercedes GL that she would receive if she paid the taxes and fees in advance, according to court records. The records show she was told to send checks for various amounts to Frederick Shmidt at his address on Huguenot Trail in Powhatan County.
On Tuesday, Feb. 12, a Powhatan grand jury indicted Shmidt, 81, of Powhatan on four felony counts of obtaining money by false pretenses between April and August 2018.
While all four of the charges Shmidt was indicted on are related to the Portsmouth woman’s case, a search warrant affidavit identifies four more individuals who reported being victims of similar crimes involving sending money to cover fees and taxes to Shmidt’s address for winnings they did not receive.

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