SCRANTON, PA – Josiah DeJesus, 22, from Bronx, New York, entered a guilty plea before United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for his role in a Dominican Republic-based scam that targeted elderly Americans nationwide.
United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam stated that from June 2020 to October 2020, DeJesus, along with four accomplices he recruited from the Bronx, made trips to Pennsylvania and Ohio to collect packages filled with cash. These packages were shipped via UPS and FedEx by elderly victims led to believe that their grandchildren faced serious legal trouble. Calls making these false claims originated from the Dominican Republic, where co-conspirators posed as either the victims’ grandchildren or legal representatives.
DeJesus admitted that the scam led to financial losses ranging from $250,000 to $550,000. He acknowledged causing significant financial hardship to at least five victims and illegal use of their identification. DeJesus committed to pay restitution of $328,780.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation—Philadelphia Division, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement in Berks County, PA, conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John is leading the prosecution.
Conviction for this federal offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Sentencing will be determined by the Judge, taking into account federal sentencing statutes and guidelines.