Engels Guillermo Almengot Valerio, a resident of the Dominican Republic who was living illegally in Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on May 4 to one count of money laundering conspiracy, according to United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Valerio’s plea is related to his role in a scheme known as grandparent fraud that targeted elderly individuals across the United States. In this type of scam, conspirators based in the Dominican Republic called seniors and impersonated their grandchildren or other relatives. The callers falsely claimed there was an emergency such as an accident or arrest and requested immediate financial help. The calls were then transferred to someone pretending to be a lawyer or bail bondsman seeking payment.
The scammers arranged for rideshare drivers—who were unaware of the fraud—to pick up cash from victims located throughout the country, including within the Western District of Pennsylvania. These drivers delivered the money to members of the conspiracy. Law enforcement determined that Valerio ordered these rideshares, collected proceeds from drivers, and laundered funds through various bank accounts not only in Pennsylvania but also New York, California, and Nevada. A search at his residence in New Jersey uncovered further evidence including $12,000 in cash.
Judge Nora Barry Fischer has scheduled sentencing for September 8. Valerio faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $500,000; however, any actual sentence will depend on federal Sentencing Guidelines considering offense seriousness and prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case with support from investigations led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation alongside several other federal and state agencies such as the New York City Police Department.
