Six residents of Montreal who were accused of defrauding elderly Americans of hundreds of thousands of dollars have admitted their guilt. The individuals, namely David Anthony Di Rienzo, Tenaj Johnson, Carson Vaudry, Mason Pereira-Walker, Paul Letourneau, and Steven Petruzziello, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and fraud. They confessed to engaging in scam calls targeting U.S. seniors from 2019 to 2021, aiming to acquire $1.5 million from approximately 1,700 victims, with a significant portion of the funds being intercepted by authorities.
In a court filing containing agreed-upon facts, it was revealed that Di Rienzo is the leader of the scam network and bears the largest financial responsibility, owing around $90,000 in restitution payments to eight victims. Sentencing proceedings, which may involve victim testimonies, are set for January. Petruzziello has already received a two-year detention sentence, including one year of house arrest, followed by three years of probation and 200 hours of community service.
Additionally, another individual, Joshua Sarroino, who is currently in custody and faced with a murder charge, entered a no contest plea, indicating acceptance of the conviction without admitting guilt. The scam operation, as per wiretap details obtained by law enforcement, involved a systematic approach where scammers impersonated grandchildren of the victims, followed by a handover to another individual posing as a law enforcement officer or lawyer to complete the deception.
Despite the group’s reported earnings of about $316,000, investigations revealed that Di Rienzo possessed multiple luxury vehicles, including four Mercedes and a Rolls-Royce Phantom valued at nearly $600,000. This criminal activity is part of a larger network of grandparent scams in Montreal, with allegations of connections to organized crime groups such as the Italian mafia and biker gangs.
The arrests of these individuals were made in 2021, and formal charges were laid in 2023 under the Projet Partenariat investigation conducted by Quebec provincial police. The case demonstrates a disturbing pattern of financial exploitation and psychological harm inflicted on vulnerable seniors, leading to loss of retirement savings and peace of mind. In a separate incident, 25 Quebec residents are facing fraud charges in the U.S. for their involvement in a $30 million scam operation targeting American victims, while contesting extradition proceedings.
The prevalence of grandparent scams in Montreal highlights the need for continued vigilance and law enforcement efforts to combat fraudulent activities preying on the elderly. The impact of such schemes extends beyond monetary losses, causing emotional distress and tarnishing the trust of victims in their final years.
