A Canadian man, aged 44, has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for his involvement in a scheme that defrauded elderly victims in the U.S., collecting millions of dollars. Stefano Zanetti played a significant role in a grandparent scam network based in Canada, as per U.S. prosecutors.
Zanetti, along with 25 others including Gareth West, who posed as a real estate developer, faces charges and potential extradition to the U.S. He was apprehended in Panama and transferred to the U.S., where he allegedly oversaw the network’s operations, specifically handling money pickups from victims.
Having pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies last year, Zanetti employed individuals to collect money on his behalf. Teams of three individuals worked under his direction, with two crews being apprehended by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The network strategically targeted victims in various states and cities to evade law enforcement surveillance.
Operating from Montreal call centers, the scammers would impersonate grandchildren in legal trouble, followed by a fake police officer or lawyer requesting bail money from the victims. Subsequently, Zanetti’s associates would visit the victims’ homes to collect cash.
During his incarceration, Zanetti allegedly mentioned to a cellmate that individuals in Canada were attempting to silence him with a $2 million payment. In addition to imprisonment, he faces a $35,000 fine and restitution totaling $780,870 in the U.S.
The legal proceedings involving the other 25 accused individuals, including West, are ongoing, with extradition requests pending. Jimmy Ylimaki, one of the accused, was arrested in Nicaragua and brought to the U.S.
United States Attorney Troy Rivetti emphasized the severe financial and emotional harm inflicted on elderly victims and their families by Zanetti and his associates. The prosecution and sentencing highlight the commitment of the Department of Justice and law enforcement to hold accountable those who exploit vulnerable community members, regardless of their location.