Charges withdrawn in Murrysville hit-and-run tied to lottery scam

Charges were withdrawn Tuesday against a Jamaican national from Maryland accused by police of hitting a Murrysville man with his vehicle while trying to collect $100,000 in an alleged lottery scam.

Prosecutors said they dropped two counts against Clint OBrian Robinson, 47, because of an ongoing investigation by the state attorney general’s office into Jamaican nationals and a lottery scheme.

Robinson appeared in district court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

He was arrested April 9 after authorities said he drove 3½ hours from Maryland to Westmoreland County to pick up the cash from the Murrysville man, who was not seriously injured.

The Murrysville man told investigators he had been talking by phone to men “who appear to have Jamaican accents” for the previous six weeks after his elderly mother filled out a postcard for what she believed was a Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes, according to court papers.

The callers claimed the victim won $5 million, but that they needed $100,000 to release the money. When the courier arrived to pick up the cash, the Murrysville man stood in front of the car and called 911. Police caught up with Robinson about four miles away.