Xavian Brown, a Jamaican-born resident of Baldwin County, Alabama, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across the United States. According to court documents, Brown and his co-defendants contacted more than 130 people, falsely informing them they had won lottery or Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes prizes. The victims were told they needed to pay taxes in advance to claim their winnings. Testimony during sentencing revealed that many victims lost their life savings and experienced significant financial harm.
United States District Judge Kristi DuBose imposed a 10-year prison sentence on Brown, followed by three years of supervised release. A restitution hearing is scheduled for early December to determine the amount Brown will be required to repay his victims.
Several co-defendants have also been sentenced. Romario Nembhard received one year and one day in prison and was ordered to pay over $441,000 in restitution. Jermaine Smith was sentenced similarly and ordered to pay more than $447,000 in restitution. Britney James was sentenced to time served and must also pay over $447,000 in restitution. Sentencing for other co-defendants is set for December 2025.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello. “Exploiting Americans through this type of scheme is a cruel and calculated crime, aimed at a vulnerable community. Protecting Americans from financial exploitation is one of our top priorities. This sentence demonstrates that those who abuse trust for personal gain will be held accountable.”
“The FBI is committed to investigating those who exploit the American people for financial gain and seeing through the prosecution of those individuals,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sara Jones. “The hard work of our agents and professional staff, along with a dedicated United States Attorney’s Office, assures that these criminals will not go unpunished for their actions. Today’s sentence is another example of our collective efforts to combat criminal activity in the Gulf Coast Region in conjunction with our partner agencies.”
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Mobile Division with assistance from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Foley Police Department, and Gulf Shores Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasee Heisterhagen and Mike Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protecting communities from violent crime.
Information about elder fraud scams can be found on the FBI’s website: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/elder-fraud.
