The U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of California released the below information:
SAN DIEGO – Two more members of a nationwide
“grandparent scam” network have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges under the
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act known as RICO.
According to court
documents, the defendants were members and associates of a criminal enterprise
that engaged in extortion and fraud to swindle more than $2 million from
70-plus elderly victims across the nation. At least 10 elderly victims
who resided in San Diego County lost over $300,000 to the fraud. From
approximately November 1, 2019, until October 14, 2020, the members of the
criminal enterprise targeted elderly Americans, contacting them by phone and
feeding them phony stories that their grandchildren were in legal trouble and
needed money to pay for bail, pay medical expenses for car accident victims, or
prevent additional charges from being filed. Members and associates obtained
money from victims through in-person cash pick-ups, by mail or commercial
carriers, or via wire transfers. Conspirators laundered the proceeds by
transferring the funds or converting from fiat currency to cryptocurrency.
Defendant Lyda Harris
was arrested in the Republic of Albania in August 2021 and extradited to the
United States. According to Harris’s plea agreement, she received and
funneled victim proceeds for a coconspirator to convert from fiat currency to
cryptocurrency. As part of the guilty plea, Harris agreed to forfeit
$6,243 in proceeds she personally received from the offense. Harris will
also be subject to an order of restitution to the victims of the offense in the
amount of at least $1,208,291.93.
According to
defendant Tracy Glinton’s plea agreement, Glinton’s primary role was helping
codefendant Tracy Knowles receive proceeds from coconspirators who obtained
victim money. Glinton knew that the money she received for Knowles
constituted proceeds of grandparent scams. In their phone messages,
Glinton and Knowles discussed the “grandma scam.” As part of her guilty
plea, Glinton agreed to forfeit $9,950 in proceeds she personally received from
the offense and pay at least $471,600 to the victims in restitution.
“The defendants
participated in a sophisticated conspiracy that exploited our nation’s most
vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The elderly victims
were financially and emotionally shattered by these heartless crimes.
Fortunately, the coordinated efforts of our prosecution team and law
enforcement partners held the defendants accountable and obtained justice for
their victims.” Grossman commended the Assistant U.S. Attorney and law
enforcement agents who diligently pursued this matter.
“Scammers continue to
target our elderly population at an ever-increasing rate across the country.
These defendants intentionally preyed upon and systematically stole from their
victims without a second thought,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy.
“Today’s guilty pleas send a clear message that the FBI is committed to
identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who are committing
financial crimes. The FBI will continue to work with our partners on the San Diego’s
Elder Justice Task Force to protect our elders.”
This case was
investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, which is a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s
Office, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Office and all San Diego County law enforcement
agencies. The Elder Justice Task Force, established in
February 2021, is believed to be
the first comprehensive law enforcement effort for this purpose anywhere in the
country. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department
of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number
21cr2216-CAB
Tracy
Adrine
Knowles
30 Orlando, Florida
Fugitive
Adonis
Alexis Butler
Wong
30 Northbay Village, Florida
Fugitive
Timothy
Ingram, AKA
Bleezy
29 North Hollywood, California
In
custody. Sentencing set for July 29, 2022.
Anajah
Gifford
23 North Hollywood, California
In
custody. Sentencing set for August 26, 2022.
Lyda
Harris
74 Laveen, Arizona
Released
on bond. Sentencing set for September 30, 2022.
Joaquin
Lopez
46 Hollywood, Florida
Released
on bond. Sentencing set for August 19, 2022
Jack
Owuor
25 Paramount,
California
Released
on bond. Sentencing set for August 17, 2022.
Tracy
Glinton
35 Orlando, Florida
Released
on bond. Sentencing set for September 2, 2022.
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title
18, U.S.C., Sec. 1962(d) – Conspiracy to Conduct or Participate in an Enterprise
Through
a Pattern of Racketeering Activity
Maximum
penalty: Twenty years in prison and a fine of not more than the greater of
twice the amount of gain or loss associated with the offense or $250,000
AGENCIES
Department
of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch
San
Diego Elder Justice Task Force, which includes:
San
Diego FBI
San
Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San
Diego Police Department
San
Diego Sheriff’s Department
Carlsbad
Police Department
Oceanside
Police Department
Escondido
Police Department
Chula
Vista Police Department
El
Cajon Police Department
La
Mesa Police Department
National
City Police Department
Coronado
Police Department
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