Joaquin Lopez, Racketeering Conspiracy, California 2022

Grimy Times reports on a shocking case of elderly exploitation in California. Joaquin Lopez, a Hollywood, Florida resident, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in a federal court.

Lopez is the third defendant to plead guilty in a nationwide ‘grandparent scam’ network. His plea agreement revealed that he used bank accounts under his control to funnel victim proceeds for co-defendant Tracy Knowles. As part of the guilty plea, Lopez agreed to forfeit $62,700 in proceeds from the offense and will also be subject to an order of restitution to the victims of the offense in the amount of at least $136,500.

Anajah Gifford, a North Hollywood, California resident, pleaded guilty on May 5, 2022, to conspiracy charges. Her plea agreement stated that she conducted cash pick-ups from victims under the direction of co-defendant Timothy Ingram and helped Ingram pay unlawful proceeds to co-defendant Knowles. Gifford also recruited others to obtain additional bank accounts to receive money transfers from victims. As part of her guilty plea, Gifford agreed to forfeit $52,750 in proceeds she personally received from the offense and pay at least $1,235,406.93 to the victims in restitution.

The defendants were part of a sophisticated criminal organization that exploited the love a grandparent has for a grandchild. The victims were financially and emotionally devastated by callous people who thought only of enriching themselves. Because of the diligence of prosecutors and law enforcement partners, the defendants have been brought to justice.

The case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, which is a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Office, and all San Diego County law enforcement agencies. The Elder Justice Task Force was established in February 2021 and is believed to be the first comprehensive law enforcement effort for this purpose anywhere in the country.

Tracy Adrine Knowles, a 30-year-old Orlando, Florida resident, is a fugitive in the case. Adonis Alexis Butler Wong is also a fugitive.

According to court documents, the defendants were part of a criminal enterprise that engaged in extortion and fraud to swindle more than $2 million from 70-plus elderly victims across the nation. At least 10 elderly victims who resided in San Diego County lost over $300,000 to the fraud.

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