Six Horry County residents sentenced to federal prison in lottery scam

Nine people, including six Horry County residents were sentenced Thursday to serve federal prison time and pay restitution for a bogus lottery scam that targeted elderly victims across the country, according to the U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Bill Nettles.

In the scam, the victims would be notified that they had won a lottery or sweepstakes, but needed to pay fees or taxes in advance to receive their winnings, according to federal officials.

There were 18 people indicted in the case and three others were sentenced previously.

U.S. District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, citing the devastating impact on the more than 150 victims of the scam, sentenced the following people to the prison terms:

▪ LeGrant Allen, 30, of Charlotte, N.C., 15 months in prison

▪ Wayne Duffus, 30, of Little River, 156 months in prison

▪ Jaclyn Freeman, 24, of Little River, six months in prison plus six months home detention

▪ Kimesha Lewis, 28, of Wilkesboro, N.C., five months in prison plus five months home detention

▪ Damion McLeish, 34, of North Myrtle Beach, 15 months in prison

▪ Denisha Robinson, 27, of Little River, 21 months in prison

▪ Lorenzo Samuels, 28, of Riverdale, Ga., 24 months in prison

▪ Johnte Vereen, 32, of Conway, 19 months in prison

▪ Cameo West, 27, of Little River, five months in prison plus five months home detention

Each of the defendants also was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $839,827.

This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 7:14 PM with the headline "Six Horry County residents sentenced to federal prison in lottery scam."