O.C. Man Charged With Sweepstakes Scam

Federal authorities arrested an Orange County man and accused him of bilking elderly people out of $70,000 with claims that he represented nationally known publishers’ sweepstakes. Gary Maddux, 36, of Santa Ana Heights was charged with one count of wire fraud at a federal court hearing in Los Angeles. He was held without bail pending his arraignment Dec. 15. Papers filed in the case allege that Maddux engaged in a broad scheme to convince senior citizens to send him money to pay for “taxes, license and registration” for awards they allegedly won from American Family Publishers or from Publishers Clearing House. Maddux allegedly told potential victims that personalities Ed McMahon and Dick Clark were listening in on their conversation. He would seek addresses, saying Clark was on his way to deliver the checks, according to an affidavit by FBI Agent Scott A. Akina. Maddux’s lawyer could not be reached for comment.