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A Bronx man is going through 20 years for his position in a global “grandparent rip-off” that preyed on aged individuals with grandchildren.
Victor Anthony Valdez, 39, allegedly collected tens of hundreds of {dollars} from grandparents in New York and New Jersey between August 2020 and 2021 after they put up money to deal with what they have been falsely advised have been their grandchildren’s authorized issues.
The rip-off operated out of name facilities within the Dominican Republic. Conspirators would contact aged individuals, posing as their grandchildren or individuals related to the authorized system.
The posers would inform the victims that their grandchildren had been arrested and wanted money for bail or different bills.
“As soon as victims have been satisfied by way of lies and falsehoods, co-conspirators instructed the victims to offer money to couriers, together with Valdez, who went to victims’ properties to select up the cash,” the U.S. Legal professional for New Jersey mentioned in an announcement.
“The alleged perpetrators in these scams – together with this defendant – goal our weak senior inhabitants,” mentioned U.S. Legal professional Philip R. Sellinger.
“They depend on the grandparents’ love and devotion to their households with a purpose to persuade them to place up cash.”
“As alleged on this indictment, the defendant right this moment labored as a courier, touring to the properties of the rip-off victims to select up the cash,” he continued.
“My workplace will defend the rights of all victims, and we’ll relentlessly prosecute those that allegedly goal the weak to cheat them out of their financial savings.”
Valdez was arrested Tuesday and charged with wire fraud conspiracy, the U.S. legal professional mentioned.
He pleaded not responsible, in line with courtroom paperwork.
“Mr. Valdez knowingly preyed upon the aged for his personal acquire,” Social Safety Administration Inspector Common Gail S. Ennis mentioned within the assertion.
“We admire our regulation enforcement companions becoming a member of us in investigating and prosecuting these advanced, worldwide scams aimed toward defrauding aged People, a lot of whom depend on SSA advantages to make ends meet.”
If convicted, Valdez faces a most of 20 years in jail and a nice as much as $250,000.
Valdez wasn’t reachable and his legal professional didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
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