Two additional people pleaded guilty in federal court under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act for a nationwide “grandparent scam” that victimized at least 10 elderly San Diego County residents.
Lyda Harris of Laveen, Arizona, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday; Tracy Glinton of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty on June 9, 2022. According to federal prosecutors, they are the fifth and sixth of eight defendants to plead guilty; two remain fugitives.
The defendants were members and associated with a criminal enterprise that engaged in extortion and fraud to swindle more than $2 million from over 70 elderly victims across the nation, according to court documents. At least 10 elderly victims who resided in San Diego County lost over $300,000 to the fraud.
According to the U.S Attorney’s Office, the fraud scheme was active from approximately Nov.1, 2019, until Oct.14, 2020, which targeted the elderly by contacting them by phone or feeding them phony stories that their grandchildren needed financial assistance because of legal or medical issues.
Members and associates obtained money from victims through in-person cash pick-ups, by mail or commercial carriers, or via wire transfers. Conspirators laundered the proceeds by transferring the funds or converting from fiat currency to cryptocurrency.
“The defendants participated in a sophisticated conspiracy that exploited our nation’s most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The elderly victims were financially and emotionally shattered by these heartless crimes.”
This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, which is a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Office, and all San Diego County law enforcement agencies. The Elder Justice Task Force, established in February 2021, is believed to be the first comprehensive law enforcement effort for this purpose anywhere in the country.
