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Nationwide "Grandparent Scam" Perps Begin Receiving Prison Sentences

Nationwide "Grandparent Scam" Perps Begin Receiving Prison Sentences

The perpetrators of a nationwide "Grandparent Scam" that took money from elderly people have started receiving prison sentences following work by the IRS Criminal Investigation division.

The scam began in April 2020 and continued through January 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many people were at their most financially vulnerable. 

This week, Jasaun Pope (AKA "Biz") -- the first 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, "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 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. 

The IRS shared a quote from United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, who was involved in the case:

"These sophisticated criminal organizations exploit the elderly by preying on the love and commitment they have for their families. These heinous frauds wreak immeasurable financial and emotional harm on victims to satisfy the greed of networks of criminals. Our office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute scammers who seek to take advantage of vulnerable members of our community."

There are 68 current suspected victims of this elder fraud scheme, though there could be additional victims who continue to come forward. At this time, it has been confirmed that Pope and his crew pocketed over $683,464.

Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Detroit Division also weighed in, saying:

"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to vigorously pursue those who utilize the U.S. Mail to advance their fraud schemes. Crimes of these type bring grave financial and personal hardships to their victims. Criminal misuse of the U.S. Mail will not be tolerated, and our agency will continue to go after those who seek to take advantage of vulnerable individuals."

In addition to serving his prison sentence and two years of probation after release, Pope is required to pay restitution in the amount of $554,574.02 to his victims.

What do you think about this "Grandparent Scam"?

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Rebekah Barton

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