Elder Phone Scam Prosecutions
1. United States v. Adrian Abramovich (2017, California)
Facts: Abramovich ran a scam targeting seniors, claiming they owed back taxes or could receive “debt relief” through his company. He persuaded victims to wire money or provide credit card information.
Legal Issue: Wire fraud, mail fraud, elder financial exploitation, and TCPA violations.
Prosecution: The FBI traced thousands of calls and financial transactions. Victim interviews and call recordings were crucial evidence.
Outcome: Abramovich was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison and ordered to pay over $4 million in restitution.
2. United States v. Seth Aaron Ingram (2018, New Jersey)
Facts: Ingram used robocalls targeting elderly Americans, offering fake “government grants” and requesting personal financial information.
Legal Issue: Wire fraud, identity theft, and elder financial exploitation under federal law.
Prosecution: Federal authorities traced robocall systems and documented financial transactions linked to victims.
Outcome: Ingram received 7 years in federal prison and was ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution.
3. United States v. Paul T. Meyer (2016, California)
Facts: Meyer conducted a nationwide phone scam claiming to sell “health insurance” and “retirement savings protection” to seniors.
Legal Issue: Wire fraud, mail fraud, elder financial abuse, and violations of the TCPA.
Prosecution: FBI and FTC jointly investigated, using call logs, recorded scripts, and testimony from elderly victims.
Outcome: Meyer was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison and restitution of $3.8 million, highlighting the severe consequences of targeting seniors.
4. United States v. David Alexander (2020, Texas)
Facts: Alexander targeted elderly borrowers with fake student loan forgiveness programs over the phone, demanding upfront fees.
Legal Issue: Wire fraud, elder financial exploitation, and TCPA violations.
Prosecution: Call tracking, bank account analysis, and victim interviews confirmed the fraudulent scheme.
Outcome: Alexander was sentenced to 8 years in prison and ordered to pay $5.1 million in restitution.
5. United States v. Wei Li (2019, New York)
Facts: Li called small businesses and elderly homeowners claiming they owed taxes or fines, coercing victims to pay money immediately.
Legal Issue: Wire fraud, elder financial abuse, and conspiracy.
Prosecution: Authorities used call records, IP address tracing, and financial transaction tracking to link Li to the scam.
Outcome: Li received 6.5 years in federal prison with restitution of $2.6 million.
6. United States v. Justin Tucker (2019, Florida)
Facts: Tucker ran a “tech support” phone scam targeting elderly users, convincing them to grant remote computer access and pay for non-existent repairs.
Legal Issue: Wire fraud, elder exploitation, and TCPA violations.
Prosecution: FBI traced software logs, call records, and financial transactions to Tucker. Victims testified regarding losses.
Outcome: Tucker was sentenced to 6 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $2.8 million in restitution.
7. United States v. Michael Coscia (2018, Illinois)
Facts: Coscia used spoofed phone numbers to target elderly victims with fake warranty and insurance calls.
Legal Issue: Wire fraud, conspiracy, elder abuse, and TCPA violations.
Prosecution: Authorities demonstrated that calls were intentionally spoofed and analyzed financial transactions from victims.
Outcome: Coscia received 4 years in federal prison and restitution to victims.
Key Takeaways from Elder Phone Scam Prosecutions
Legal Framework: Commonly prosecuted under wire fraud, mail fraud, elder abuse statutes, TCPA, and identity theft laws.
Targeting Seniors: Cases show that elderly victims are frequently exploited due to perceived vulnerability, which increases sentencing severity.
Evidence Collection: Call recordings, robocall logs, IP addresses, and bank transactions are crucial for proving fraud.
Restitution: Courts often order multi-million-dollar restitution to compensate victims.
Federal Enforcement: DOJ, FBI, and FTC often coordinate investigations and prosecutions of elder phone scams.
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