Man extradited to US to face charges in Arizona romance, sweepstakes scheme

An Arizona-based romance scam victim may have lost over $400,000 to a scheme organized by Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie, extradited to the United States to face charges related to a romance and sweepstakes scheme that targeted the 85-year-old victim. Bellinfantie was extradited from Jamaica on June 12, 2025, to face charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The scheme deceived the victim into believing she was engaged in a romantic relationship, and the co-conspirators falsely represented that she had won the lottery or other monetary prizes to induce her into sending them money. The indictment alleges that from December 2015 through January 2019, Bellinfantie and his co-conspirators participated in the romance and sweepstakes scheme. A conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering each carries a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. An indictment is a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, and an individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.