Jean Richard Audate, Grandparent Scam, Rhode Island 2023

New York City Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Grandparent Scam

PROVIDENCE, RI – Jean Richard Audate, 38, was sentenced to 30 months of incarceration for his role in a grandparent scam that defrauded seniors out of thousands of dollars, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Audate, a New York City man, traveled to various U.S. locations, including Rhode Island, to pick up cash payments from unsuspecting victims of the scams, U.S. Attorney Cunha stated.

The scam involved members of the conspiracy contacting elderly victims throughout the United States, including in Rhode Island, by telephone, posing as the victim’s grandchild, a relative, a lawyer, or other individual, and falsely telling the victim that a relative, typically the victim’s grandchild or child, had been arrested or incarcerated in connection with a car accident.

The scammer would then instruct the victim to send large amounts of money for bail or related legal expenses, and to conceal the crime, the scammer would tell the victim that a “gag order” was in place in their relative’s legal matter that prohibited the victim from sharing information with anyone else.

Audate was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 30 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.

He was also ordered to pay a total of $867,149 to victims of the scam, according to information presented to the court. Audate pleaded guilty on February 24, 2023, to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud.

U.S. Attorney Cunha thanks the Lincoln, RI, and Brookline, MA, Police Departments for their assistance in the investigation.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/pr/grandparent-scammer-sentenced-federal-prison