'Grandparents Scammer' Nabbed In Monroe Sentenced To Prison

CONNECTICUT — A Bronx man was sentenced Wednesday to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a "grandparents scam" that defrauded elderly victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Edward Rosario-Canela, 48, was one of two men arrested after they were caught having more than $42,000 from telephone scams delivered to a vacant address in Monroe, according to police. On Nov. 17, 2022, Rosario pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.

In Rosario's scam, fraudsters who often live outside the U.S. contact elderly victims in the U.S. by phone impersonating the victim’s grandchild in distress, and induce the victim to send money purportedly help the grandchild, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

For a fee, Rosario picked up packages of money that victims had mailed to addresses in Connecticut and elsewhere, and helped send the money to co-conspirators in the Dominican Republic.

U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford also ordered Rosario to pay restitution of $655,683.

Rosario, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on Sept. 16.