Bronson Announces Arrest In Sweepstake Scam
For Information, Contact:
Major Bob Johnson
(850) 245-1300
Bob.Johnson@freshfromflorida.com
January 11, 2008
TALLAHASSEE - Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced the arrest today of a South Florida man involved in a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme. David M. Raff, 45, of Weston, turned himself in to the Broward County Detention Center earlier today where he was booked for grand theft, a third degree felony.
The arrest is the culmination of an extensive investigation conducted in conjunction with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service involving a mail fraud operation out of the UPS Store in Weston, Florida. Raff allegedly engaged in a mail fraud scheme over a period of several years. Using a UPS Store as his base of operations, Raff mailed thousands of fake sweepstakes checks to people throughout the United States and Canada. The fake sweepstakes checks requested victims to send by mail a sum of money that ranged between $23.50 and $25.00 dollars for a processing fee to claim their sweepstakes prize.
Agents executed a search warrant during the investigation, recovering over 10,000 pieces of mail from mail boxes registered to Raff and various businesses that he represented. More than 200 victim affidavits were collected as evidence in the investigation.
Prior to being charged, prosecutors entered into a plea agreement with Raff and his attorney. Raff will be sentenced to 5 years probation, cease and desist all operations and pay the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office $5,000.00 each for investigative costs.
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