More prison sentences have been handed down to perpetrators in a nationwide "grandparent scam" that first made headlines last summer.
In August 2022, Jasaun Pope (AKA "Biz") -- one of five defendants in the case -- was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for U.S. mail fraud and money laundering offenses.
According to an official release from the IRS's Indianapolis office that was issued at the time, "Pope, along with co-conspirators Darlens Renard, Princess Elizer, Jennifer Glemeau, and Kareem Brown, targeted and exploited the elderly and their relationships with their relatives for personal financial gain."
The 2022 release went on to share details of the case, including how various co-conspirators made scam telephone calls to elderly victims in Indiana and around the United States. The scammers claimed that one of the victim's loved ones, usually a grandchild, needed money urgently for an emergency or medical need.
The caller, who typically claimed to be a lawyer, police officer, or other authority figure, told the victims to send an overnight cash delivery -- generally between $5,000 and $15,000 -- to assist the family member in question.
As part of the sophisticated scheme, the IRS explained, select members of Pope's crew traveled to cities nationwide to find abandoned properties where they could receive these cash deliveries.
These addresses were sent to Pope who provided them to Renard, who then gave them to other co-conspirators. Ultimately, the crew traveled back to these addresses to pick up the funds.
Now, a new IRS press release shares that all of the co-conspirators in this elder scam have been sentenced to federal prison.
In addition to Pope's 8-year term, Darlens Renard, of North Lauderdale, Florida, will serve 78 months in prison, Princess Elizer, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to 41 months in prison, Jennifer Glemeau, of Marietta Georgia, faces 30 months in prison, and Kareem Brown, of North Baldwin, New York, was handed 36 months in prison.
According to the IRS, over the course of a years-long investigation, 68 victims have been identified and total losses amount to over $683,464.
"These scams ruthlessly exploited older Americans and their concern for their loved ones," said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
Myers continued, "Each of these defendants will have years in federal prison to reflect on how their scheme harmed the seniors they targeted. These sentences demonstrate the ongoing commitment of our office, and our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute these despicable elder fraud schemes."
What do you think about these prison sentences?
You Might Also Enjoy:
- More Defendants Charged In $50 Million Tire Ponzi Scheme
- Former Bank Teller Going to Federal Prison For Fraud Crimes
- Sentencing Continues In $9.5 Million Sweepstakes Elder Scam
Comments / 33