New York men plead guilty in sweepstakes scam that prompted sting in Unity

Two men from New York soon will be paroled after serving two months in jail for swindling an elderly Unity woman while posing as delivery men who offered a $5 million lottery award.

Floyd B. Forrest, 26, and Reheem J. Anderson, 22, each pleaded guilty Wednesday to one felony theft count and a charge related to allegations they fled from police and led officers on a high-speed chase after an undercover sting operation exposed the scam.

Police said the men initially contacted the 84-year-old victim by phone in April and claimed she won a $5 million Publisher’s Clearinghouse sweepstakes and a Mercedes Benz.

She received what was later confirmed by her bank to be a fake $30,000 check and was instructed to deposit it and take out $9,500 of her own money to pay taxes on the winnings, according to court records. The next day, she complied with a second request for payment, but she became suspicious and notified authorities, police said.

State troopers set up a sting operation at the victim’s home after a third request for cash was made. Police said Forrest and Anderson drove up to the home but evaded capture and fled onto Route 30 in a Nissan Rogue. Minutes later, troopers from the Somerset Turnpike station spotted the SUV headed eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, prompting a high-speed chase.

The vehicle eventually was disabled by spike strips, and Forrest and Anderson were apprehended as they attempted to run away.

Two bags that were seized contained a United Parcel Service uniform and a driver’s license that was connected to the $30,000 fake check, police said.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger imposed the terms of negotiated plea deals that called for Forrest and Anderson each to serve two to 23 months in jail and one additional year on probation.

“I bet she was pretty excited,” Krieger said about the victim’s likely initial reaction after being told she won the money. “Anybody smart enough to pull off something like this can do more with their life.”

Westmoreland County prosecutors said the plea deal was agreed to after $19,000 in restitution, earmarked for the victim, was paid on Wednesday.

Both men have been in jail since their arrest on April 11 and will be paroled once New York officials agree to assume their supervision, the judge said.