Title: Dominican Republic Nationals Charged in “Grandparent Scam” Defrauding Elderly Americans of Millions

Sixteen Individuals Charged in Connection with “Grandparent Scam”

• The Justice Department announced the charging of sixteen individuals, including eleven from the Dominican Republic, for their involvement in an extensive “grandparent scam” defrauding elderly Americans out of millions of dollars.

Charges against the Defendants

The defendants, who went by names like “openers,” “closers,” and “dispatchers,” were charged in an 19-count indictment with:

1. mail and wire fraud conspiracy,
2. wire fraud,
3. mail fraud,
4. conspiracy to commit money laundering, and
5. money laundering.

• The defendants allegedly targeted elderly Americans by impersonating grandchildren in distress over the phone from call centers in the Dominican Republic. The impersonated grandchildren claimed they had been arrested or involved in accidents and required immediate bail or lawyer fees.

Operation of the Scam

• The defendants used U.S.-based couriers to collect and send the cash to the Dominican Republic. The victims either provided the cash directly to the couriers or handed it over at their homes using false names and receiving counterfeit receipts.

Victims and Losses

• If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and fines for each count of the mail and wire fraud charges and each count of money laundering.

Names of the Charged Individuals

1. Juan Rafael Parra Arias (Yofre)
2. Nefy Vladimir Parra Arias (Keko)
3. Nelson Rafael Gonzalez Acevedo (Nelson Tech)
4. Rafael Ambiorix Rodriguez Guzman (Max Morgan)
5. Miguel Angel Fortuna Solano (Botija)
6. Felix Samuel Reynoso Ventura (Fili)
7. Carlos Javier Estevez
8. Louis Junior Rodriguez Serrano (Junior)
9. Miguel Angel Vasquez
10. Jovanni Antonio Rosario Garcia (Porky)
11. Jose Ismael Dilone Rodriguez
12. Endy Jose Torres Moran
13. Ivan Alexander Inoa Suero
14. Jhonny Cepeda
15. Ramon Hurtado
16. Yuleisy Roque

Investigation and Prosecution

• The case is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, New York Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations New York, the New Jersey State Police, and the FBI.
• The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in the case.

Resources for Elder Fraud Victims

• The trial attorneys from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Jersey are prosecuting the case.

Reporting Elder Fraud

• Victims of this or any other elder fraud scheme should call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).

Protecting Yourself from Elder Fraud

• The Consumer Protection Branch and the Elder Justice Initiative provide more information about preventing and reporting elder fraud at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch and https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

Disclaimer

• An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.