TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – A man from Jamaica has pleaded guilty to running a romance and lottery scam that cost an elderly Arizona woman more than $469,000.
Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie, also known as “Ice Man,” pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud on May 20. The 40-year-old was indicted in March 2022 and extradited to the United States in June 2025 for prosecution in the District of Arizona.
Sherwayne Benjamin Bellinfantie, a man from Jamaica, has pleaded guilty to running a romance and lottery scam that cost an elderly Arizona woman more than $469,000.
In his plea agreement, Bellinfantie admitted that he and his coconspirators ran a romance and sweepstakes scheme targeting an 85-year-old Arizona resident from December 2015 to January 2019. Bellinfantie and a co-conspirator pretended to be romantically involved with the woman to gain her trust, officials said.
The co-conspirator reportedly sent flowers with love messages to the victim’s home as part of the scheme. The scammers also told the woman she had won the lottery and a new vehicle.
Bellinfantie and his coconspirators convinced the victim she needed to pay fees and taxes to claim her prize. The woman was instructed to mail funds to locations across the United States and transfer money to various money runners.
Bellinfantie admitted he received portions of the money stolen from the victim. He agreed to pay $469,302 in restitution.
Bellinfantie’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18. The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office conducted the investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
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