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A Cape Cod woman was indicted today in federal court in Boston in connection with a fraudulent lottery scheme.
Ashley Barrett, 25, of Hyannis, was indicted on seven counts of mail fraud. On March 29, 2018, Barrett was arrested and was released from custody on conditions.
According to the indictment, between September 2012 and January 2016, Barrett and others devised a scheme to defraud victims across the country by falsely representing to them that they had won millions of dollars in a lottery, and that, in order to receive their winnings, they had to pay a fee. The victims were directed to make payments to specific addresses. Between May and July 2015, one victim mailed Barrett seven checks totaling $23,600.
In March 2018, co-conspirator Peter Anthony Chin Jr. was indicted in connection with his role in the scheme.
The charging statute for mail fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
