USAO Ends 2024 with Notable Achievements to Combat Elder Fraud

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio

CLEVELAND – Combatting elder fraud continues to be a top priority for the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio, in 2024 and beyond. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal law violations that occur in any of the 40 northern counties in the state of Ohio which the district serves.

Prosecutors in the USAO’s White Collar Crimes Unit carry out the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiatives, which include a commitment to combatting elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and other scams that target our nation’s senior citizens. Elder fraud schemes take a variety of forms that range from small-scale identity thefts to mass mail fraud schemes that steal money and other assets from thousands of elderly victims. Annually, these fraud schemes bilk seniors out of billions of dollars throughout the country.

“Many fraud crimes that target our elderly population involve criminals taking advantage of this group’s trusting nature. Fraudsters falsely claim to be government officials or promise to help with computer issues, persuading victims to provide fraudsters with access to their personal information,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Our office prioritizes prosecuting those who prey on the elderly members of our communities in an attempt to steal their savings.”

Notable cases in 2024 that involved elder fraud include:

U.S. v. Alahmad - A caregiver forged a power of attorney document and used it to apply for, and receive, credit and debit cards in the name of the victim who was an elderly adult. The victim was in a nursing home rehabilitation facility while the defendant made unauthorized withdrawals and purchases using the victim’s credit and debit cards. Alahmad was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $46,064.30.

U.S. v. Xie – A Chinese national college student on an F‐1 Visa traveled across the country, worked as a “money mule” who picked up cash from older victims, and then transferred the funds to his handler. Xie was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to pay $188,000 in restitution.

U.S. v. Wehman – The defendant was charged with wire fraud for stealing from his grandfather by using credit cards, debit cards, and a line of credit. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay $376,069.46 in restitution.

U.S. v. Turnipseede – The defendant defrauded approximately 72 investors out of more than $8.5 million through a Ponzi scheme that promised investors double-digit profits achieved through a purported algorithm designed to generate double-digit returns through various sports wagering businesses. Defendant used investor money to maintain the business, seek new sources of funds, pay off earlier investors, and fund personal expenses. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 3, 2025.

U.S. v. Alexander – The defendant and other involved individuals engaged in a cold‐calling scheme that targeted older investors throughout the United States. They used aggressive and deceptive tactics and promised large returns if the victims participated in wine and whiskey investments. The court sentenced Alexander to three years of probation and ordered him to pay $202,195.58 in restitution.

U.S. v. Mangukia – Defendants were charged in a conspiracy for falsely posing as customer service employees at a company or bank. Co-conspirators contacted a victim and falsely claimed that the victim’s account was at risk or had been compromised by a hacking event or similar computer intrusion. The conspirators directed the victim to make a wire transfer, convert cash to cryptocurrency at a Bitcoin ATM, and withdraw cash to purchase gold coins and bars. Defendants then traveled to Ohio to pick up the gold bars.

U.S. v. Chaudhary – Defendants were charged as part of a conspiracy for falsely posing as customer service employees at a company or bank. Co-conspirators contacted a victim and falsely claimed that the victim’s account was at risk or had been compromised by a hacking event or similar computer intrusion. The conspirators directed the victim to withdraw cash and had a conspirator pick up the cash from the victim's home.

U.S. v. Kai – The defendant approached victims through social media to invest money into cryptocurrency. Victims were instructed to deposit their money through a “service director” affiliated with a cryptocurrency business. The service director informed the victims that deposits were to be made in person and in cash-only transactions. During one of these transactions, Kai was identified as the individual in a vehicle scheduled to take the victims’ money.

Additionally, USAO staff conducted numerous public outreach efforts to educate the community to be aware of elder fraud scams including:

• “Courier and Grandparent Scams,” National Consumer Protection Week Meeting
• “Tops Scams for 2024,” St. Mary of the Woods Senior Living Community, FBI Organized Crime Conference, and Parma Snow Branch Library
• “Elder Fraud Scams and Robocalls,” St. Mary of the Woods Independent Living
• “Elder Fraud and Cold Calling Investment Scams,” AARP Podcast interview

To report crimes, visit https://tips.fbi.gov/home or https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/financial-exploitation .

Contact

Jessica Salas Novak

Jessica.Salas.Novak@usdoj.gov 

Updated January 4, 2025

Source:
USAO Ends 2024 with Notable Achievements to Combat Elder Fraud

Disability advocates push for statewide approach to combat elder fraud

FILE - The gold dome of the Georgia Capitol gleams in the sunlight in Atlanta, Aug. 28, 2022. Under a $392 million plan agreed to on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, the state Capitol would get a renovation while the state would build a new legislative office building for lawmakers on the north side of the complex, to the right of the Capitol. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)(Steve Helber | AP)

By Abby Kousouris

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - One in five Georgians over the age of 65 have a disability, making them a target for scams, exploitation, and sometimes physical abuse.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, at least 10% of adults age 60 and older will experience some form of elder abuse this year.

The Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia, The Georgia Council on Aging, and the Georgia Advocacy Office are working together on a bill that would tackle the growing number of elderly abuse crimes reported in the state.

Supporters of HB 1123 said it would be a game-changer. The bill would create a team called the “Elder Justice Coalition.” The group would meet a few times a year to discuss a statewide approach to cut down on elder abuse. Regional coordinators would be named across the state.

“With elder abuse, they are typically abusing or taking advantage of people who are older and disabled, a lot of them at one time. Investigators and District Attorneys — they’re all trying to figure out how they can fight these things, but at the same time, just because maybe they’re fighting one case in South Georgia doesn’t mean that maybe that person running the unlicensed personal care home. It doesn’t mean they don’t have another one, three counties over, or maybe they’ve got five or six of them,” said Nancy Pitra with the Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia.

Pitra said she feels strongly about the bill because it pulls resources from across the state together. If signed into law, the coalition would first establish a state adult abuse neglect and exploitation team and work with local agencies to collect data as well as report abuse. They want to work with law enforcement to provide training on what signs to look out for.

“Everybody’s aging. You want to do it well, and we’re all at different stages in that process. So for us, it’s even more critical to start now,” said Debra Stokes with the Georgia Council on Aging.

Stokes said the state needs to take action now to protect the 15% of Georgians who are over 60 years old.

“The Georgia Advocacy Office is thrilled that different organizations are coming together, from those who work with the elderly to those who work with intellectual and developmental disabilities together on this coalition, tackling the incredible problem of abuse and neglect of people in Georgia,” said Rena Harris, Georgia Advocacy Office.

The 40-day bill signing period ends on Wednesday. Gov. Kemp has not vetoed any legislation yet. They’re hoping he will sign the bill.

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Disability advocates push for statewide approach to combat elder fraud