Florida Grandparent Scam: Six Alleged Fraudsters Arrested for Stealing $250,000 from Senior Citizens

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced on Monday that six alleged fraudsters have been arrested in Florida for stealing nearly $250,000 from senior citizens in the state through “grandparent scams.” The suspects would contact seniors, pretending to be their grandchildren’s lawyers, and claim that the grandchild needed bail money after being arrested for hitting a pregnant woman with a vehicle. They would then arrange for the victims to send them money.

The suspects, identified as Jairo Izquierdo, Gennesis Castro, Wendy Angelina Ortiz, Ada Tido, Wandy Castro, and Olfa Cornielle, are facing multiple first-degree felonies, including organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal identification.

According to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, these fraudsters took advantage of the fact that most grandparents would do anything to help a grandchild in need. Through a convincing imposter scheme, they used fear and family to extort Florida seniors, resulting in the theft of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Thanks to the collaboration between law enforcement partners in South Florida, this grandparent scheme has been shut down, and the six fraudsters will face the consequences of their crimes.

The suspects would pressure the victims to provide bail money by telling them the fabricated story about their grandchildren. They instructed the victims to produce the bail amount in cash and place it in a box that would be picked up by couriers arranged by the suspects. These couriers were unknowing ride-share drivers requested by the fraudsters. They would transport the cash to an arranged location.

Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels commended the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Vice Intelligence Squad for their exceptional collaboration with the Florida Attorney General and federal agencies. Their dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to protecting the elderly population are truly commendable.

In some instances, the suspects would contact the same victim multiple times to demand more cash. One victim paid $9,000 before being told that the pregnant woman had a miscarriage and an additional $18,000 was needed due to upgraded charges. The suspects then claimed that the baby’s father attacked the victim’s grandson for causing the miscarriage and that the grandchild had elbowed a police officer during the attack. This prompted a need for another $20,000 for bail and $7,500 in court fees. The alleged fraudsters received more than $54,000 from this victim.

Similar situations occurred with other victims. One senior paid the scammers $53,000, while another victim paid $8,000 initially and was then asked for an additional $4,000 for bail and $1,700 for medical bills. Another victim paid $30,000 for bail and later sent an additional $7,000 when the fraudsters claimed that the pregnant woman had died, causing the bond to increase.

The suspects targeted seniors in various counties, including Brevard, Broward, Lee, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, and Sarasota. This case highlights the importance of being cautious when receiving calls from unknown individuals claiming to be family members in need of financial assistance. It is crucial for seniors and their families to be aware of these scams and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.