Jamaican National Arrested in Prentiss County for Publisher’s Clearing House Scam
PRENTISS COUNTY – A Jamaican man accused of running a Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes scam has been arrested and indicted in Prentiss County after investigators say he defrauded victims across multiple states of nearly $1 million.
Sheriff Randy Tolar said the case began in June 2024, when a local senior citizen reported losing thousands of dollars in the scam. Unlike legitimate sweepstakes, the fraudulent scheme tricked victims into believing they had won millions and a luxury car, then demanded payment through gift cards or cashier’s checks.
The investigation led authorities to identify Delroy Escoffery, 30, a Jamaican national living in Rochester, New York. Escoffery was flagged in a national database and later detained by U.S. Customs in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as he attempted to leave the country. He was also wanted in New York and held in Monroe County before being extradited to Mississippi.
On August 25, 2025, Escoffery was booked into the Prentiss County Jail following a grand jury indictment on three felony counts: mail/wire fraud and two counts of false pretenses. His bond was set at $100,000, and he awaits arraignment.
Sheriff Tolar noted this is one of the rare cases where a suspect in a Publisher’s Clearing House scam has been successfully identified and arrested. Investigators also uncovered nine additional victims in nine other states, with two individuals losing more than $250,000 each.
