Overview

• The indictment names Oscar Manuel Castaños García as a suspected ringleader and reports that nine of the accused are in custody while four remain fugitives in New York, New Jersey and Florida.
• Prosecutors allege the network targeted about 400 elderly victims, averaging 84 years old, across California, New York, Florida, Massachusetts and Maryland.
• Authorities say the scheme used ‘openers’ to place initial calls, ‘closers’ posing as lawyers to demand cash and U.S.-based couriers to collect funds.
• The 13 defendants face federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
• Officials and FBI agents warn this case reflects an epidemic of cross-border elder fraud, echoing a similar $21 million Canadian-led operation in March.