Justice in the U.S.: Two Dominicans sentenced for scam network targeting the elderly
Two Dominican citizens have received a two-year prison sentence in U.S. territory after being found guilty of participating in a money laundering network, the proceeds of a fraud scheme designed to deceive elderly individuals. The individuals involved have been identified as Luis Alfonso Bisonó Rodríguez, 35, and Engels Guillermo Almengot Valerio, 26.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer in the Western District of Pennsylvania. In addition to the prison time, both must serve a three-year period of supervised release upon completing their initial sentence, according to the federal prosecutor’s office.
The modus operandi of the fraud
According to official information gathered by Alofoke Deportes, those convicted were part of a criminal structure that operated from the Dominican Republic under the modality known as “grandparent scam.” The system consisted of the following steps:
- Scammers contacted elderly adults posing as grandchildren or close relatives who were going through an alleged emergency.
- Under pressure and deception, they convinced the victims to hand over sums of cash immediately.
- The organization used private transport services to collect the money directly from the victims’ homes.
Rodríguez and Valerio played key roles in receiving the cash obtained through deception, managing both the deposit into bank accounts and the transfer of funds to the Dominican Republic.
Research details
Judicial authorities detailed that Valerio was in charge of coordinating the transport services that collected the cash, which ended up in the hands of Bisonó Rodríguez. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Conway, who presented the evidence that proved the guilt of both individuals in the money laundering conspiracy.
Prosecutor Troy Rivetti acknowledged the work of the FBI and the various police departments that collaborated in dismantling this operation. This case serves as a critical reminder of the risks that older adults face regarding these types of scams, where criminals exploit emotional bonds and family concern to commit illicit acts.
