A 79-year-old Missouri woman who admitted helping lottery scammers move more than $1.9 million through her bank accounts will not go to prison.
U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine sentenced Sharon Dolisi, of Phelps County near St. James, to three years of probation on Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
The judge also ordered her to repay $1.97 million to victims.
Dolisi pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. She admitted depositing cashier’s checks and personal checks from 28 victims into her personal bank accounts from about April 21, 2023, to June 11, 2025.
Victims Were Told They Had Won The Lottery
Victims were contacted by phone or text and told they had won a lottery, but first had to prepay “taxes” and “fees” to supposed intermediates and merchant bankers, prosecutors said. If victims did not have enough liquid cash, conspirators told them to obtain reverse mortgages and home equity loans.
The money was then routed through accounts Dolisi controlled. Prosecutors said she supplied debit cards to co-conspirators in Jamaica, who used the cards to withdraw victims’ money. KRCG reported that Dolisi admitted receiving more than $2 million and moving $1.9 million through accounts she opened.
Banks And Investigators Had Warned Her
DOJ said Dolisi continued moving money after warning signs piled up. Less than a week after her first deposit, one bank closed her account. On Oct. 28, 2024, prosecutors said Dolisi lied when she told law enforcement that she was not receiving money from or sending money to other people.
Four days later, bank representatives questioned her about three large cash withdrawals totaling $64,500. Dolisi falsely claimed she bought and sold gold, according to DOJ. On June 27, 2025, she told a bank representative that she immediately needed $54,000 in cash to buy gold and collectibles.
Officials Said Elderly Victims Lost Life Savings
Aaron McCullough, acting special agent in charge with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, said Dolisi accepted and transmitted money from vulnerable elderly victims under false pretenses. He said many elderly victims lost their entire life savings.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service also investigated the case. Nicholas Bucciarelli, inspector in charge of the agency’s Chicago Division, said postal inspectors investigate fraudsters who use the mail system to carry out financial schemes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll prosecuted the case.
The Scam Was Not About A Real Lottery Prize
The FTC warns that if someone has to pay to get a prize, it is a scam. Real prizes are free, and scammers often demand money for supposed taxes, fees, shipping, handling, or processing before releasing fake winnings.
The warning is even stronger when a caller tells someone to take out a reverse mortgage or home equity loan to cover fees. That can turn a fake prize into real debt tied to a victim’s home. Anyone who receives a lottery or sweepstakes call should stop before sending money, talk to a trusted family member, and verify the claim through the official lottery or contest operator using contact information found independently.
Restitution Was Ordered, But Recovery Is Not Guaranteed
Dolisi was ordered to repay $1.97 million to victims, but a restitution order does not mean victims will quickly recover the full amount. That is one reason money-mule cases are so damaging: by the time investigators trace the accounts, much of the money may already have been withdrawn, moved overseas, or spent.
For families, the practical warning is to watch for sudden secrecy around lottery calls, pressure to send money before receiving a prize, unusual bank withdrawals, new loans, or a senior being coached to lie to bank staff. In this case, prosecutors said victims were told a prize was waiting. The money actually went through mule accounts and into the hands of scammers.