Dominican nationals plead guilty in U.S. scam targeting elderly

Four Dominican nationals have admitted guilt in Massachusetts for their roles in an international fraud network that targeted over 400 elderly Americans, causing losses exceeding $5 million. The scheme operated through call centers based in the Dominican Republic.

The accused, Oscar Manuel Castaños García, 34; Joel José Cruz Rodríguez, 34, alias "Paflow"; Edward José Puello García, 45; and Joel Francisco Mathilda León, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering. They were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024, arrested in the Dominican Republic in August 2025 at U.S. authorities' request, and subsequently extradited to the United States, where they are currently detained awaiting sentencing.

Court documents reveal Castaños García managed several call centers in the Dominican Republic. Employees there would contact elderly individuals in the U.S., impersonating close relatives like grandchildren who were allegedly in emergencies. A second operator, known as the "Closer," would then pose as the supposed relative's lawyer, demanding money for legal fees.

Victims were instructed to hand over cash, often through app-based transport drivers who unknowingly collected packages from their homes. In other instances, victims mailed cash or used commercial shipping services. The network also re-victimized individuals, sometimes multiple times, fabricating new emergencies to solicit additional funds. Some victims were even driven to banks to withdraw more money.