⏱ 3 min read
A group of seven Canadian nationals, including Evangelos Lohaitis, Mitchell Burnett-Guarna, and Kyle Lesser, were charged with participating in a nationwide Grandparent Scam that defrauded elderly individuals in Vermont and over 40 other states between the summer of 2021 and June 4, 2024. The scam, which involved phone calls from call centers in and around Montreal, Quebec, targeted vulnerable seniors by falsely claiming to be a relative in need of bail money. The scammers posed as attorneys or bail bondsmen to convince victims to provide money, which was then transmitted to Canada. The investigation was led by the Homeland Security Task Force.
The scam worked by having defendants call elderly victims, claiming to be a grandchild who had been arrested after a car crash and needed money for bail. Other defendants would pose as an attorney representing the supposed grandchild, and victims were often told that a gag order was in place to prevent them from discussing the matter with anyone. The scammers would then convince the victims to provide bail money to an individual posing as a bail bondsman, who would collect the money from the victim’s home.
The seven defendants, who were arrested in Canada on May 7, 2026, are accused of participating in a separate indictment that charged 25 other defendants, including Gareth West, with involvement in the same Grandparent Scam. The indictment, which was unsealed on May 7, 2026, alleges that the defendants used various methods to transmit the money to Canada, including cash deliveries and financial transactions involving cryptocurrency.
The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting vulnerable populations from financial exploitation. The Grandparent Scam is a particularly egregious type of crime, as it preys on the trust and concern that grandparents have for their grandchildren.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Vermont
- Location: VT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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