New Yorker charged with scamming Rhode Island seniors sentenced to federal prison

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — United States Attorney Zachary Cunha said a New York City man who traveled to various locations around the country to perform a “grandparent scam” was sentenced to federal prison.

38-year-old Jean Richard Audate was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud.

Cunha said that in January 2021 New Haven, C.T. police began receiving reports from out-of-state police departments that elderly residents in their areas had been defrauded out of large amounts of money.

An investigation by the police and FBI found that members of the scam would pose as the victim’s grandchild, a relative, a lawyer, or other individual.

They would then tell the victim that a relative, typically the victim’s grandchild or child, had been arrested or incarcerated in connection with a car accident, and that the relative needed money for bail or related legal expenses.

Scammers would also tell the victims 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 to 30 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release, as well as pay a total of $867,149 to victims of the scam.