Six individuals have been apprehended in Miami-Dade County, Florida, for their alleged involvement in a grandparent scam that targeted senior citizens, resulting in the theft of nearly $250,000. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrests on Monday, shedding light on the fraudulent scheme that exploited the victims’ love for their grandchildren.
The suspects, identified as Jairo Izquierdo, Gennesis Castro, Wendy Angelina Ortiz, Ada Tido, Wandy Castro, and Olfa Cornielle, are facing multiple first-degree felony charges, including organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal identification.
According to authorities, the fraudsters posed as lawyers representing the victims’ grandchildren and claimed that the grandchild needed bail money after being involved in a hit-and-run incident with a pregnant woman. The suspects employed fear and familial ties to extort money from vulnerable Florida seniors.
To execute their scheme, the alleged fraudsters coerced the victims into providing cash for bail. They instructed the seniors to place the bail amount in a box, which would then be collected by unsuspecting ride-share drivers, arranged by the suspects. These drivers unknowingly transported the cash to predetermined locations.
The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Vice Intelligence Squad played a crucial role in collaborating with the Florida Attorney General’s office and federal agencies to apprehend the individuals involved in this extortion of the elderly population. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels commended the team’s dedication and commitment to protecting the community’s most vulnerable members.
In some instances, the suspects repeatedly contacted the same victim, demanding additional funds. One victim paid $9,000 initially, only to be informed later that the pregnant woman had miscarried, resulting in upgraded charges and an additional $18,000 required for bail. The fraudsters further claimed that the victim’s grandson had been attacked by the baby’s father, necessitating an extra $20,000 for bail and $7,500 for court fees. In total, the alleged fraudsters received over $54,000 from this victim alone.
Similar scenarios unfolded with other victims, with one paying $53,000 and another paying $8,000 initially, followed by subsequent demands for more money. The suspects exploited the victims’ emotions by falsely claiming that the pregnant woman had lost her baby, resulting in medical bills and increased bond amounts.
The fraudsters targeted seniors across multiple counties in Florida, including Brevard, Broward, Lee, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, and Sarasota.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed her satisfaction with the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in shutting down this extensive grandparent scam. The six suspects now face legal consequences for their alleged crimes.
