Related Federal Cases
- David Young, Procurement Fraud Scheme, Hernando Beach FL, 2023 · Utah
- Sylvia Begay, Medicaid Billing Fraud, Arizona 2024 · Idaho
- Jason David Grisham, Assault of Federal Officer, Arizona 2016 · Wisconsin
- Reginald Fowler, Bank Fraud, Arizona 2024 · New York
- Stephen Allen Lamont, Medicare Fraud, Arizona 2023 · Colorado
Crime Journal: Elderly Targets in Fraud Scheme
In a shocking expose, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has joined the Justice Department’s Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to combat the rising tide of elder fraud cases.
As part of this effort, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has successfully prosecuted various cases involving scams targeting the elderly. One such case is United States v. Joseph Batts et al., where David McIntosh was sentenced to 160 months in prison and ordered to pay approximately $1.8 million in restitution.
McIntosh was a leader in an international lottery fraud ring that targeted thousands of elderly victims around the United States. His co-defendant, Joseph Batts, received a sentence of 70 months in prison for his role as a “lead list” distributor.
The District of Arizona has also sought the extradition of co-defendant Ferlando McCoon from Jamaica. McCoon is currently challenging his extradition to the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, along with its federal partners, continues to work tirelessly to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. The Strike Force expansion will further enhance these efforts, increasing the total number of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices comprising the Strike Force from six to 20.
According to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, the expansion will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat sophisticated fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.
In the related case of United States v. Sheldon Hibbert, CR-19-1973-TUC-SHR, Hibbert received a sentence of 48 months in prison for his role in laundering portions of the fraudulent proceeds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has also successfully prosecuted other cases involving elder fraud, including United States v. Onovughe Ighorhiohwunu, CR-21-1119-TUC-SHR, where Ighorhiohwunu was found guilty by a jury for his role as a money launderer in an international romance fraud scheme targeting vulnerable and elderly victims. Ighorhiohwunu received 130 months in prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is dedicated to bringing those who defraud the elderly to justice, whether they commit such crimes in the United States or from abroad.
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News