Grandparent Scams In Ohio: 2 Men Plead Guilty
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WESTLAKE, OH — Two Floridians pleaded guilty this week to running a “grandparent scam” in Westlake, Lorain and several other cities in Northeast Ohio.
John Tyler Pla, 25, and Johnny Lee Palmer, 26, both from Tampa, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The duo stole more than $380,000 from victims, the Department of Justice said.
Pla and Palmer will be sentenced July 26.
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Between July 20, 2020 and August 28, 2020, Pla and Palmer targeted elderly Ohioans in Brecksville, Parma, Gates Mills, Lorain, Mansfield, Fairview Park, Westlake and Mentor, court documents said.
Pla and Palmer would call an elderly Ohioan and claim to be one of their relatives — usually a grandson or granddaughter, or an attorney for the relative — and say the relative needed bail money after being arrested, court document said.
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They would then send a “courier” to pick-up money in-person, court documents said. Pla and Palmer would then go to the target’s home in a rented U-Haul and collect the money, court documents noted.
In total, the duo’s victims lost $383,932 in the scams, court documents said.
The Cleveland FBI and Westlake police led the investigation into Pla and Palmer.
The Department of Justice noted there is help for anyone who has been the victim of a scam.
“If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis,” the DOJ said.
To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.
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