I am a 72-year-old Van Buren County woman, and I was targeted, deceived, and financially devastated by a calculated scam.
I was contacted by phone and told I had won a $5.5 million Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. The caller sounded convincing, confident, and authoritative. I was told that before I could receive my winnings, I needed to pay taxes upfront. I was promised millions. Instead, I was stripped of my savings.
Under pressure and false promises, I mailed more than $200,000 to multiple addresses. I was not paying taxes. I was feeding a scam.
Investigators later determined that more than $90,000 of my money ended up in the hands of Donald Johnson Jr., a 55-year-old man operating out of New Jersey. This was not an accident. This was a deliberate fraud scheme.
On December 22, 2025, Michigan State Police arrested Donald Johnson Jr. in Morris County, New Jersey. He was extradited to Michigan and arraigned the next day on felony false pretenses charges involving tens of thousands of dollars. He is now being held in the Van Buren County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
This case is still under investigation—but the damage to me is already done.
Let this be clear: legitimate sweepstakes do not require payment to claim winnings. Anyone who calls demanding money, fees, or “taxes” for a prize is lying. They are scammers. They are thieves.
I was not careless.
I was targeted.
And Donald Johnson Jr. is now facing the consequences.
Michigan State Police urge everyone to stay alert. If you receive calls asking for money to claim prizes, report them immediately. If you believe you have been targeted or victimized, contact law enforcement without delay.
Because what happened to me can happen to anyone.