25 Canadians Charged for Defrauding US Elderly in An elaborate scam, primarily from the Montreal area, in a sophisticated fraud operation that stole more than $21 million from senior citizens across 41 US states, including Vermont.
The investigation, which uncovered a highly coordinated network of call centers in Quebec, revealed that the accused were running a scheme that preyed on the fears and emotions of elderly victims.
Operating from call centers in Pointe-Claire and Vaudreuil-Dorion, the fraudsters impersonated relatives of their victims, falsely claiming to be in urgent legal trouble and in need of immediate financial assistance.
Others posed as fake lawyers, instructing the victims that a “gag order” was in place, preventing them from informing anyone about the emergency. This deception allowed the accused to extract millions of dollars from unsuspecting retirees, with the funds then converted into Canadian currency for use in Canada.
The Operation and Arrests
According to the indictment unsealed on Tuesday, the fraudulent operation ran from the summer of 2021 through June 2024, generating millions of dollars each year. Investigators detailed how the perpetrators used fear tactics to manipulate victims into handing over large sums of money, often their entire life savings.
Authorities conducted search warrants at multiple locations in Canada, uncovering damning evidence of the operation. During the raids, one of the suspects, Ricky Ylimaki, also known as “Ruffles,” was caught inside his truck with multiple cellphones and lists of elderly victims from various states.
In a dramatic turn of events, more than 20 suspects were apprehended in the middle of making fraudulent calls, with one victim from Virginia on the line at the time of their arrest.
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Michael J. Krol, a special agent in charge of Homeland Security investigations in New England, described the scheme as a sophisticated operation that exploited fear to defraud seniors.
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He praised the joint efforts of Canadian and American law enforcement agencies, including the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), in dismantling the fraudulent network.
The Accused and Potential Sentences
The indictment names 25 Canadian suspects, including two individuals who remain at large: 38-year-old Gareth West, also known as “Buddy” and “Muscles,” from Burlington, Ontario, and 35-year-old Jimmy Ylimaki, also known as “Coop,” from Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Quebec.
Five suspects are facing additional charges of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. The other accused face up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.
The following is a list of the 25 Canadians Charged for Defrauding US Elderly involved in the scheme:
| No. | Name | Age | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gareth West | 38 | Burlington, Ont. |
| 2 | Usman Khalid | 36 | Les Coteaux, Que. |
| 3 | Andrew Tatto | 43 | Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Que. |
| 4 | Stephan Moskwyn | 42 | Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Que. |
| 5 | Ricky Ylimaki | 31 | Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que. |
| 6 | Richard Frischman | 31 | Montreal, Que. |
| 7 | Adam Lawrence | 41 | LaSalle, Que. |
| 8 | Michael Filion | 45 | Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Que. |
| 9 | Jimmy Ylimaki | 35 | Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que. |
| 10 | Nicolas Gonzalez | 27 | Kirkland, Que. |
| 11 | Ryan Melanson | 27 | Montreal, Que. |
| 12 | Joy Kalafatidis | 31 | Pointe-Claire, Que. |
| 13 | David Arcobelli | 36 | Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Que. |
| 14 | Jonathan Massouras | 35 | Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. |
| 15 | Nicholas Shiomi | 42 | Montreal, Que. |
| 16 | Antonio Iannacci | 33 | Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Que. |
| 17 | Jonathan Ouellet | 29 | Saint-Eustache, Que. |
| 18 | Kassey-Lee Lankford | 28 | Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. |
| 19 | Sara Burns | 31 | Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. |
| 20 | Justin Polenz | 34 | Montreal, Que. |
| 21 | Ryan Thibert | 37 | Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. |
| 22 | Michael Farella | 29 | Sainte-Geneviève, Que. |
| 23 | Sebastian Guenole | 30 | Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Que. |
| 24 | Ryan Bridgman | 37 | Deux-Montagnes, Que. |
| 25 | Stephanie-Marie Samaras | 29 | Laval, Que. |
In addition to the 25 Canadian suspects, nine other individuals, including suspects from the United States and China, had previously been charged in connection to the investigation. The US-based suspects played key roles in the operation, handling logistics and funneling money to Canadian counterparts.
Law Enforcement Response and Public Warning
Thomas Demeo, acting special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Boston field office, emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting the public from international fraudsters.
He condemned the criminal enterprise for exploiting retirees and stealing their life savings, vowing continued cooperation with both domestic and international law enforcement agencies to prevent similar crimes.
Authorities urge the public, particularly senior citizens and their families, to remain vigilant against such scams. Common warning signs include unexpected calls from alleged relatives in distress, urgent requests for money, and instructions to keep the situation confidential.
Law enforcement officials advise anyone who receives such calls to verify the information with other family members and report suspicious activity to authorities.
The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the fight against transnational fraud. By dismantling a major network of scammers operating out of Canada, authorities have taken a crucial step in protecting vulnerable individuals from financial exploitation. As investigations continue, law enforcement remains dedicated to ensuring justice for the victims and preventing future scams from taking root.