New York Man Sentenced In 'Grandparent Scam', RI Residents Out $394K

PROVIDENCE, RI — A New York City man was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for his role in a "grandparent scam" which cost Rhode Island residents nearly $395,000, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Rhode Island recently announced.

Jason Hatcher, 40, was sentenced for his role in a conspiracy with 14 known victims, ranging from 79 to 94-years-old, law enforcement officials said. Those people were contacted via a telephone call, with a person on the other end of the phone posing as a family member or attorney.

According to officials, these callers falsely told the victims that a loved one, generally a grandchild, had been arrested after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, and needed cash bail.

The victims were directed to gather cash for these fake bail payments and told to provide the money to a courier who would be sent to their home.

Different members of the conspiracy played various roles to carry out the scam; Hatcher traveled around Rhode Island and met face-to-face with many of the victims to collect the cash payments, officials said.

Hatcher pleaded guilty on July 5, 2020, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced on Nov. 21 by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to thirty-three months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $394,033.

Two co-defendants in this matter, Bryan Valdez-Espinosa, 22, and Diego A. Alarcon, 22, of Union City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and are awaiting sentencing in U.S. District Court in Providence.