Extradited Trio Targeted Seniors in NJ: Grandparent Scam

Three Additional Dominican Nationals Extradited to Face “Grandparent Scam” Charges in New Jersey.Photo byMorristown Minute

Fraud Scheme Involves Call Centers that Duped Elderly Victims Out of Millions of Dollars

NEWARK, N.J. – Three individuals from Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, were extradited to the United States and appeared in Newark federal court on charges related to a widespread "grandparent scam" that defrauded elderly Americans.

The suspects, Juan Rafael Parra Arias, also known as "Yofre," 41; Miguel Angel Vasquez, aka "Miguel Disla," 24; and Jose Ismael Dilone Rodriguez, 34, are part of an 11-person indictment, unsealed on April 29, accusing them of various fraud-related crimes. The court has ordered their detention pending trial.

“These defendants and their co-conspirators are accused of heartlessly robbing countless elderly victims of their precious time and often their life savings – all from more than 1,500 miles away,” said Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “Parra Arias, Vasquez, and Dilone Rodriguez were among the 16 individuals charged in this appalling scheme, which spanned at least four U.S. states and allegedly threatened hundreds of innocent Americans’ livelihoods."

The indictment alleges that the suspects operated a sophisticated scheme from call centers in the Dominican Republic. Parra Arias allegedly managed these centers, which targeted senior citizens in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

The scam involved "openers" impersonating victims' relatives, claiming they were in legal trouble and needed financial assistance. "Closers" then posed as legal professionals to convince victims to send cash, either picked up by couriers or mailed.

The defendants face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. Each charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and substantial fines.

“As alleged, these three defendants played a role in a scheme that relied on the love and devotion of elderly victims in order to cheat them out of millions of dollars. In this ‘grandparents’ scam,’ some of the defendants allegedly impersonated grandchildren in distress, claiming, for example, they had been arrested after a car accident involving a pregnant woman who later miscarried, and they needed immediate cash for bail or a lawyer. Conspirators like Parra Arias, Vasquez, and Dilone Rodriguez allegedly operated the call centers or dispatched couriers to pick up money from the victims,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

The investigation is a collaborative effort involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), the New York Police Department (NYPD), and the FBI. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs played a crucial role in the extradition process, alongside cooperation from the Dominican government.

“The grandparent scam is a cruel fraud scheme that deliberately preys on elderly and vulnerable persons within society. Perpetrators, often cowardly operating off-shore, cause extreme emotional and financial harm to the innocent people they target in commission of this crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) Boston New York Field Division.

Victims of Financial Fraud:

Individuals aged 60 or older who have experienced financial fraud can seek help from the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11. The hotline offers support and guidance in reporting incidents and connecting with appropriate agencies, available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, in multiple languages including English and Spanish.

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