Atlanta man Patrick Dallas pleads guilty in $1 million sweepstakes scam targeting seniors

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Patrick Dallas of Atlanta has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges tied to a lottery and sweepstakes scheme that authorities say swindled senior citizens out of at least $1 million across multiple states.

Dallas, 38, pleaded guilty Feb. 5 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Rhode Island.

Court documents say Dallas, who is also listed as being from Cumming, Georgia, worked with two co-conspirators in a bogus Publishers Clearing House-style sweepstakes operation. Investigators said victims were told they had won millions of dollars, then were instructed to provide personal information for “prize verification” and to pay upfront fees or taxes to collect the winnings.

Prosecutors said some victims were directed to send cash, gift cards and high-value items, including Rolex watches and iPhones, to addresses controlled by the defendants. Authorities said the proceeds were then laundered through entities and bank accounts the group controlled.

Dallas is scheduled to be sentenced May 7, prosecutors said.