(WNY News Now) – A Canadian citizen has been sentenced to federal prison for participating in a phone scam that targeted elderly victims with fake DWI arrest claims.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Mohamed Khaled Sakr, 31, of Montreal, Quebec, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in a wire fraud conspiracy that defrauded elderly victims out of more than $260,000. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo also ordered Sakr to pay $262,500 in restitution to 18 elderly victims.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, Sakr conspired with others between May 8 and May 13, 2023, to carry out a telephone scam targeting elderly individuals. Members of the conspiracy contacted the victims, pretending to be relatives or legal representatives. They falsely claimed the victim’s loved one had been arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) after a motor vehicle accident and needed cash bail to be released.
Sakr acted as a “money mule” in the operation. Along with others, he traveled to various locations in the Western District of New York and beyond to collect cash from victims. The collected funds, totaling approximately $262,500, were then transferred to other unidentified members of the conspiracy based in the New York City area. An additional $9,500 was nearly obtained before the scheme was interrupted by law enforcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, and the Monroe Crime Analysis Center.
Leave a Reply