Fraud Targeted Local Elders

A man from New York admitted guilt yesterday for acting as a courier in a "grandparent scam" that deceived elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 40, from the Bronx, faced charges in the District of New Jersey for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment, issued by a grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, revealed that the scam was run from call centers in the Dominican Republic. Scammers called elderly victims, pretending to be their grandchild, a lawyer for the grandchild, court staff, or others linked to the legal system. They falsely claimed that the victims' grandchildren had been arrested and needed money for bail or other costs. Once convinced, victims were told to hand over cash to couriers like Valdez, who would visit their homes to collect the money. Between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is accused of picking up or trying to pick up tens of thousands of dollars from victims in New York and New Jersey. At the time of the crime, he worked for the Social Security Administration in New York. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its partners will actively pursue those who exploit vulnerable elderly individuals through scams like this one,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. “Those who assist international criminals in targeting at-risk consumers in the U.S. will face consequences.” “The defendant acknowledged his involvement in a scheme that targeted vulnerable seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “The defendant and his co-conspirators will be held responsible.” Valdez admitted to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy during a court hearing in Newark, presided over by Judge Claire C. Cecchi of the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. He is set to be sentenced on April 9, 2025, and could face up to 20 years in prison along with a fine that may reach $250,000. A federal judge will decide the final sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson from the District of New Jersey.

Incident reported at Bronx.

A man from New York admitted guilt yesterday for acting as a courier in a "grandparent scam" that deceived elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 40, from the Bronx, faced charges in the District of New Jersey for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment, issued by a grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, revealed that the scam was run from call centers in the Dominican Republic. Scammers called elderly victims, pretending to be their grandchild, a lawyer for the grandchild, court staff, or others linked to the legal system. They falsely claimed that the victims' grandchildren had been arrested and needed money for bail or other costs. Once convinced, victims were told to hand over cash to couriers like Valdez, who would visit their homes to collect the money. Between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is accused of picking up or trying to pick up tens of thousands of dollars from victims in New York and New Jersey. At the time of the crime, he worked for the Social Security Administration in New York. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its partners will actively pursue those who exploit vulnerable elderly individuals through scams like this one,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. “Those who assist international criminals in targeting at-risk consumers in the U.S. will face consequences.” “The defendant acknowledged his involvement in a scheme that targeted vulnerable seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “The defendant and his co-conspirators will be held responsible.” Valdez admitted to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy during a court hearing in Newark, presided over by Judge Claire C. Cecchi of the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. He is set to be sentenced on April 9, 2025, and could face up to 20 years in prison along with a fine that may reach $250,000. A federal judge will decide the final sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson from the District of New Jersey.

Incident reported at Bronx.

A man from New York admitted guilt yesterday for acting as a courier in a "grandparent scam" that deceived elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 40, from the Bronx, faced charges in the District of New Jersey for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment, issued by a grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, revealed that the scam was run from call centers in the Dominican Republic. Scammers called elderly victims, pretending to be their grandchild, a lawyer for the grandchild, court staff, or others linked to the legal system. They falsely claimed that the victims' grandchildren had been arrested and needed money for bail or other costs. Once convinced, victims were told to hand over cash to couriers like Valdez, who would visit their homes to collect the money. Between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is accused of picking up or trying to pick up tens of thousands of dollars from victims in New York and New Jersey. At the time of the crime, he worked for the Social Security Administration in New York. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its partners will actively pursue those who exploit vulnerable elderly individuals through scams like this one,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. “Those who assist international criminals in targeting at-risk consumers in the U.S. will face consequences.” “The defendant acknowledged his involvement in a scheme that targeted vulnerable seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “The defendant and his co-conspirators will be held responsible.” Valdez admitted to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy during a court hearing in Newark, presided over by Judge Claire C. Cecchi of the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. He is set to be sentenced on April 9, 2025, and could face up to 20 years in prison along with a fine that may reach $250,000. A federal judge will decide the final sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson from the District of New Jersey.

Incident reported at Bronx.

A man from New York admitted guilt yesterday for acting as a courier in a "grandparent scam" that deceived elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 40, from the Bronx, faced charges in the District of New Jersey for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment, issued by a grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, revealed that the scam was run from call centers in the Dominican Republic. Scammers called elderly victims, pretending to be their grandchild, a lawyer for the grandchild, court staff, or others linked to the legal system. They falsely claimed that the victims' grandchildren had been arrested and needed money for bail or other costs. Once convinced, victims were told to hand over cash to couriers like Valdez, who would visit their homes to collect the money. Between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is accused of picking up or trying to pick up tens of thousands of dollars from victims in New York and New Jersey. At the time of the crime, he worked for the Social Security Administration in New York. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its partners will actively pursue those who exploit vulnerable elderly individuals through scams like this one,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. “Those who assist international criminals in targeting at-risk consumers in the U.S. will face consequences.” “The defendant acknowledged his involvement in a scheme that targeted vulnerable seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “The defendant and his co-conspirators will be held responsible.” Valdez admitted to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy during a court hearing in Newark, presided over by Judge Claire C. Cecchi of the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. He is set to be sentenced on April 9, 2025, and could face up to 20 years in prison along with a fine that may reach $250,000. A federal judge will decide the final sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson from the District of New Jersey.

Incident reported at Bronx.

A man from New York admitted guilt yesterday for acting as a courier in a "grandparent scam" that deceived elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 40, from the Bronx, faced charges in the District of New Jersey for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment, issued by a grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, revealed that the scam was run from call centers in the Dominican Republic. Scammers called elderly victims, pretending to be their grandchild, a lawyer for the grandchild, court staff, or others linked to the legal system. They falsely claimed that the victims' grandchildren had been arrested and needed money for bail or other costs. Once convinced, victims were told to hand over cash to couriers like Valdez, who would visit their homes to collect the money. Between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is accused of picking up or trying to pick up tens of thousands of dollars from victims in New York and New Jersey. At the time of the crime, he worked for the Social Security Administration in New York. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its partners will actively pursue those who exploit vulnerable elderly individuals through scams like this one,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. “Those who assist international criminals in targeting at-risk consumers in the U.S. will face consequences.” “The defendant acknowledged his involvement in a scheme that targeted vulnerable seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “The defendant and his co-conspirators will be held responsible.” Valdez admitted to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy during a court hearing in Newark, presided over by Judge Claire C. Cecchi of the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. He is set to be sentenced on April 9, 2025, and could face up to 20 years in prison along with a fine that may reach $250,000. A federal judge will decide the final sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson from the District of New Jersey.

Incident reported at Bronx.