Two Dominican Republic Men Each Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Roles in Grandparent Fraud Scheme

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Two Dominican Republic residents illegally living in the United States each have been sentenced in federal court to two years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on their convictions for money laundering conspiracy, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentences on Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, 35, and Engels Guillermo Almengot Valerio, 26. Rodriguez had been living in Cleveland, Ohio, and Valerio in Paterson, New Jersey.

According to information presented to the Court, Rodriguez and Valerio participated in a conspiracy in which they laundered proceeds obtained from a sophisticated grandparent fraud scheme operating out of the Dominican Republic. The scammers contacted elderly victims impersonating a grandchild or other close relative in a crisis and seeking immediate financial assistance. The scammers then arranged for rideshare drivers to pick up cash from the grandparents and deliver the money to a member of the organized crime group, with both Rodriguez and Valerio having received cash directly from drivers. Portions of the money were deposited into bank accounts and other portions were sent via money transfers back to the Dominican Republic. Valerio also ordered the rides used to pick up the cash, including some rides that delivered fraud proceeds to Rodriguez.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which worked with many law enforcement departments throughout the United States, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecutions of Rodriguez and Valerio.