Elderly Rhode Island residents cheated out of over $300K combined in scam, 3 sent to prison
2 NJ men, a New Yorker were sent to prison for their roles in the scam
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Three men have been sent to prison for their roles in a so-called grandparent scam that cheated more than a dozen Rhode Island residents between the ages of 79 and 94 out of more than $300,000 combined, federal prosecutors said.
The defendants contacted the victims and pretended to be a relative or an attorney who needed cash to make bail payments for a family member, often a grandchild, who had been arrested, U. S. Attorney for Rhode Island Zachary Cunha said in a statement Monday.
The victims were told to provide the cash to a courier who would be sent to their home. At least 14 Rhode Island residents were victimized.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TOP WAYS TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FRAUD
Diego Alarcon, 22, of Union City, New Jersey, was sentenced Friday to 2-1/2 years in prison. Bryan Valdez-Espinosa, 22, of Union City, New Jersey, was sentenced to the same term earlier this month.
Three men were arrested in connection with a scam that cheated elderly Rhode Island residents out of a combined $300,000.
Jason Hatcher, 40, of New York, was sentenced in November to 2 years and 9 months in prison.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}RHODE ISLAND HEAD OF CHECK FRAUD SCHEME SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON
All three pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges. In addition, Hatcher pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.
The men were also ordered to pay restitution.
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Prosecutors previously said the defendants were caught only after a family member intervened in one of the scams.