Tyler Pla, Wire Fraud, Ohio 2020

State: Ohio
Category: Fraud &#038; Financial Crimes
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-running-grandparent-scam-northern-ohio" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Cleveland, OH – In a shocking case of elder exploitation, two Florida men pleaded guilty to operating a ‘Grandparent Scam’ in Northern Ohio that left their victims with a combined loss of $383,932.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that John Tyler Pla, 25, and Johnny Lee Palmer, 26, both of Tampa, Florida, entered pleas of guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

According to court documents, from July 20, 2020 to August 28, 2020, Pla and Palmer orchestrated a ‘Grandparent Scam’ targeting elderly victims in Northern Ohio cities, including Brecksville, Parma, Gates Mills, Lorain, Mansfield, Fairview Park, Westlake, and Mentor.

A member of the scheme would call elderly victims claiming to be a relative or an attorney for that relative and claim the family member had been arrested and, as a result, required money for bail. A member of the scheme would then make arrangements with the victim to collect the money through a ‘courier.’

Instead, Pla, Palmer, or a member of the scheme would travel to the victim’s residence and collect the money. In total, the victims suffered a combined loss of $383,932.

Pla and Palmer are scheduled to be sentenced on July 26, 2021. The investigation was conducted by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and the Westlake Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough.

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 hotline is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps.

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