An elderly Mystic resident was defrauded of almost $1.2 million, according to the office of U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut John H. Durham.

Stieve Fernandez, 35, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Bridgeport to a conspiracy charge stemming from a lottery scam. He is accused of defrauding the Mystic resident by falsely claiming that the victim won the lottery or some sort of sweepstakes and had to pay taxes and other expenses tied to the winnings.

"As part of their scheme, Fernandez spoke to the victim on the telephone and used various pseudonyms, including 'Damian Jackson,' 'Jesse Jackson,' and 'Huckleberry Finn,'" a news release from Durham's office reads.

From about 2015 to 2018, Fernandez, as well as two other people, Horace Crooks and Minique Morris, swindled the Mystic resident out of $1,196,207, according to court documents and statements.

"Fernandez directed the victim to pay fees in various ways, including by mailing checks and money orders to Morris in Brampton, Ontario, and Crooks in Orlando, Florida; wiring funds to bank accounts controlled by Morris and Crooks; and purchasing and sending precious metals products to Morris and Crooks," the release from Durham's office reads. "Fernandez instructed his co-conspirators how to transfer or deliver the fraud proceeds to him in Argentina or Jamaica, where Fernandez resided."

In October 2018 a New Haven grand jury indicted Fernandez, Morris and Crooks on 10 counts of conspiracy and fraud offenses. Fernandez was arrested in Jamaica in May 2019 and extradited to the U.S. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for April 29.

The Justice Department has a National Elder Fraud Hotline, (833) 372-8311, to help seniors who may be victims of fraud.