Two additional alleged members of a nationwide network scamming the elderly pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
Joaquin Lopez, 46, of Hollywood, Fla., pleaded guilty May 25, and Anajah Gifford, 23, of North Hollywood, Calif., pleaded guilty May 5, according to a May 25 U.S. Department of Justice news release. These pleas mark four of the eight defendants in the network to plead guilty. Reportedly two are pending trial, and two remain fugitives.
"These defendants were part of a sophisticated criminal organization that exploited the tremendous love a grandparent has for a grandchild," U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in the release. "The victims were financially and emotionally devastated by callous people who thought only of enriching themselves. Because of the diligence of our prosecution team and law enforcement partners, these defendants have been brought to justice."
These guilty pleas were entered for their defendants' alleged rolls in a "grandparent scam," in which scammers target the elderly by calling them and pretending to be a grandchild, other close relative or friend in need, according to the news release. Between about November 2019 and October 2020, Lopez, Gifford and other defendants allegedly swindled more than $2 million from 70-plus elderly victims across the nation by convincing them they were in legal trouble, needed bail money, medical expenses for car accident victims or that they needed funds to prevent additional charges. Defendants allegedly hauled in more than $300,000 from at least 10 elderly victims in San Diego County.
The alleged scammers convinced their victims to pay them in person, by mail or via commercial carriers and wire transfers. They later laundered the proceeds by transferring the funds into cryptocurrency, according to the news release.
"The FBI is proud to work with our local, state and federal partners on San Diego's Elder Justice Task Force to protect our elderly population with cases such as this," FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy said in the news release. "Our senior citizens deserve better than to be targeted by these criminal organizations, and we are committed to pursuing them regardless of where they are located."
Lopez was released on bond, and his sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 19, the release reported. Gifford is in custody pending sentencing Aug. 26.
