LAREDO, Texas (AP) — Prosecutors in South Texas say a businessman from Canada has pleaded guilty in a $3 million telemarketing and lottery scam.

A federal judge in Laredo on Wednesday accepted the guilty plea from 51-year-old Ragavan Thamby. No sentencing date was immediately set for Thamby, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit telemarketing fraud.

Prosecutors say Thamby and his associates, between 2002 and 2007, lured people into thinking they won a lottery or a sweepstakes. Investigators say the victims sent money to Thamby's group in Toronto to claim a nonexistent prize.

Thamby was indicted in 2009 and accused of defrauding as many as 600 people, mainly elderly Americans.

Thamby, who remains in custody, faces up to 30 years in prison and could be required to make restitution.