NEWARK, N.J. — Last week, three residents of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, were extradited to the United States and appeared in Newark federal court for their involvement in a large-scale fraud scheme known as the “grandparent scam.” The accused individuals, Juan Rafael Parra Arias, 41; Miguel Angel Vasquez, 24; and Jose Ismael Dilone Rodriguez, 34, face multiple charges related to defrauding elderly Americans out of millions of dollars.
The grandparent scam is a deceptive scheme where scammers pose as family members, typically grandchildren, in distress. The perpetrators use various methods to convince elderly victims that their loved ones are in urgent trouble—such as being involved in a serious accident or facing legal issues—and persuade them to send money urgently for bail or legal fees. This scam often involves call centers that impersonate U.S. phone numbers to make the calls appear domestic.
According to the indictment unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Parra Arias is alleged to have led a network of call centers in Santiago. Vasquez and Dilone Rodriguez are accused of working within these centers to recruit and manage co-conspirators in the United States. The scam’s operation involved “openers” who initially contacted victims and “closers” who further manipulated them into sending money, which was often collected by couriers sent by the scammers.
The indictment outlines charges of mail and wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count, along with substantial fines.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger emphasized the severity of the case: “These three defendants played a role in a scheme that exploited the love and trust of elderly victims to steal millions of dollars. We are committed to prosecuting those who target vulnerable seniors and will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton added, “The Justice Department will vigorously pursue those who engage in such fraudulent schemes, especially when they target the elderly from abroad. We appreciate the cooperation of the Dominican Republic in extraditing these defendants.”
Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York noted, “This case underscores the global reach of organized crime and our determination to combat such exploitation. We will continue working with our international partners to ensure justice.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving HSI, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, and the New York City Police Department. The extradition was facilitated with significant assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Dominican government.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane and Trial Attorneys Jason Feldman, Joshua Ferrentino, and Emily Powers are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department has urged anyone who suspects they may have been a victim of this or similar scams to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) for support and guidance.
The case highlights the ongoing battle against fraud schemes targeting the elderly, emphasizing the need for vigilance and prompt reporting to protect vulnerable individuals from financial exploitation.