BOSTON — A foreign crime syndicate run from the Dominican Republic allegedly spent years bleeding America’s elderly dry — and it took an international task force to finally shut it down.

Federal prosecutors say the network targeted more than 400 elderly Americans nationwide, with at least 50 victims in Massachusetts alone. Average age of the victims: 84. Total haul: more than $5 million.

The accused ringleader, Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, is charged with operating multiple call centers in the DR staffed with English-speaking scammers trained to play on fear, guilt, and love for family. The goal: strip seniors of their savings and funnel the cash offshore.

How the con worked

The scam started with an “opener” — a smooth-talking caller pretending to be a panicked grandson or granddaughter who had just been in a serious car accident. Moments later, a “closer” would follow up, posing as a lawyer, demanding thousands in “bail” or “legal fees” to make the problem go away.

When that wasn’t enough, prosecutors say the stories got even darker. Victims were told a pregnant woman had lost her baby in the crash. The emotional manipulation was calculated to break down any resistance and get the money flowing.

Cash was collected inside the United States by runners who dispatched rideshare drivers to pick it up directly from victims’ homes. In some cases, the elderly were chauffeured to banks to withdraw funds under the scammers’ direction.

Once collected, the money was laundered through U.S. bank accounts, handed off to co-conspirators in New York, and sent back to the Dominican Republic — keeping the foreign-to-Boston crime pipeline running at full speed.

Massachusetts in the crosshairs

While this was a coast-to-coast operation, Massachusetts was among the hardest hit. With an older, wealthier population, the Bay State offered rich hunting grounds for the crew. FBI Boston agents spearheaded the takedown with help from the Dominican National Police and specialized organized crime units.

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley called the bust “a brazen exploitation of our most vulnerable citizens” as she announced charges against 13 defendants tied to the scheme.

The charges

The accused face Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy — charges that each carry up to 20 years in federal prison and massive fines, potentially double the amount stolen.

Defendants and Alleged Roles

Defendant	Alleged Role	Charges	Status
Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, 33, of the Dominican Republic	Call Center Operator	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	In Custody
Joel Jose Cruz Rodriguez, a/k/a “Paflow,” 33, of the Dominican Republic	Call Center Manager	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	In Custody
Edward Jose Puello Garcia, 44, of the Dominican Republic	Call Center Manager	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	In Custody
Joan Manuel Mathilda Leon, 27, of the Dominican Republic and the Bronx, N.Y.	Recruited and oversaw “runners”; runner	Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud; Money Laundering Conspiracy	In Custody
Luis German Santos Burgos, a/k/a “Mambo Flow,” 32, of the Dominican Republic and Dorchester, Mass.	Call Center Affiliate	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	In Custody
Gerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, 41, of the Dominican Republic	Money Launderer	Money laundering conspiracy	In Custody
Ransel St Arlin Tavarez Jimenez, 26, of the Bronx, N.Y.	Recruited and organized “runners”; runner	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	At-Large
Joel Francisco Mathilda Leon, 26, of the Bronx, N.Y.	Runner	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	At-Large
Andry Joel Baez Santana, 31, of the Bronx, N.Y.	Runner	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	In Custody
Jose Osvaldo Polanco Batista, a/k/a “Obbi,” 28, of Winter Park, Fla.	Runner	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	At-Large
Chaman Samael Silverio Balbuena, a/k/a “Chammy,” 31, of Defiance, Mo.	Runner	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	In Custody
Manuel Nicolas Rivera Cueto, 25, of Santa Clara, Cal.	Runner	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	In Custody
Jose Arony Fermin Vasquez, a/k/a “Chiky,” 31, of N.J.	Runner	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud; and money laundering conspiracy	At-Large

Federal prosecutors are urging anyone who believes they or a loved one may have been targeted to contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.