Five people have been sentenced to federal prison for fraud and identity theft aimed at retired, elderly Florida school district employees, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
Three pleaded guilty, and two were found guilty by a federal jury.
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly,” Acting United States Attorney Michelle Spaven said in a statement.
“With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and aggressively prosecuting those who seek to stela the hard-earned savings of our senior citizens,” she went on:
Lambert Aguebor, 33, of Miramar, was sentenced to 71 months; Floyd Bostic, 42, of Tallahassee, was sentenced to 87 months; Grace Aguebor, 36, of Miramar, was sentenced to 70 months; Ronald Vargas, 38, of Osteen, was sentenced to 24 months; and Sarina Levy, 34, of Pembroke, was sentenced to six months and one day.
All were sentenced for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering, among other offenses.
According to court documents, Vargas worked as a retirement specialist for a Tallahassee company that administered savings and investment programs, and he conspired with siblings Grace and Lambert to redirect and steal retirement funds from retired school district employees.
“In total, the conspirators withdrew and attempted to withdraw retirement funds from 25 different 401 (k) accounts, resulting in a net total of $1.1 million actually being stolen,” according to the release.
In addition to the prison sentences, the defendants were ordered to pay restitution.
