Six individuals from Montreal have admitted to defrauding elderly Americans of a substantial amount of money and have pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and fraud. The accused, namely David Anthony Di Rienzo, Tenaj Johnson, Carson Vaudry, Mason Pereira-Walker, Paul Letourneau, and Steven Petruzziello, acknowledged their involvement in making fraudulent calls to U.S. seniors between 2019 and 2021.
Prosecutors revealed that the group attempted to extort $1.5 million from 1,700 individuals, but a significant portion of the funds was intercepted before reaching the scammers. Additionally, Joshua Sarroino, currently in custody for an unrelated charge, entered a no-contest plea, indicating acceptance of the conviction without admitting guilt.
As part of their guilty plea, the men are required to pay approximately $90,000, with Di Rienzo being accountable for the majority of the sum, which will be reimbursed to eight victims. Di Rienzo was identified as the ringleader of the fraudulent network. Sentencing proceedings, which may involve testimonies from victims, are set to occur in January. Petruzziello has already been sentenced to two years of detention, comprising one year of house arrest, followed by three years of probation and 200 hours of community service.
The fraudulent scheme, detailed in court documents, involved manipulating elderly individuals by convincing them that their loved ones were in distress and required financial assistance. Despite the group’s earnings being around $316,000, evidence presented in court indicated that Di Rienzo possessed several luxury vehicles, including multiple Mercedes and a Rolls-Royce Phantom valued at nearly $600,000.
The arrests of the accused occurred in 2021, with formal charges brought in 2023 as part of an investigation by Quebec provincial police named Projet Partenariat. The prevalent presence of grandparent scams in Montreal, often associated with organized crime groups like the Italian mafia and biker gangs, has raised concerns among law enforcement authorities.
In a related incident, 25 Quebec residents are facing fraud charges in the U.S. for their alleged involvement in a scam network that defrauded victims of $30 million across the United States. The accused are contesting extradition to the U.S. for trial proceedings. Gareth West, purportedly the mastermind behind another scam network, was arrested near Montreal after evading capture for some time. West, who posed as a wealthy real estate developer, is accused of accumulating millions through fraudulent activities while engaging in high-value real estate transactions.
The prevalence of grandparent scams in Montreal and the subsequent legal actions against the perpetrators underscore the need for enhanced vigilance and enforcement measures to combat such fraudulent activities targeting vulnerable populations.