A Canadian man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in a U.S. prison for his role in a large grandparent scam that targeted elderly victims across the United States. Prosecutors said Stefano Zanetti helped coordinate cash pickups from victims as part of a broader fraud network allegedly operating out of Canada.

A Canadian man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison in the United States for his role in a multi-million-dollar grandparent scam that preyed on elderly victims.

Stefano Zanetti, 44, was sentenced after pleading guilty last year to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to U.S. prosecutors, Zanetti played a key role in the scheme by overseeing the American side of the operation and co-ordinating the collection of cash from victims.

Authorities alleged that the broader fraud network operated out of Canada and involved numerous individuals. Investigators said the scam relied on call centre workers who contacted seniors while pretending to be grandchildren in distress. A second caller, posing as a lawyer or police officer, would then persuade victims to provide urgent bail money. Cash was later collected directly from victims’ homes by couriers working under the direction of those involved in the scheme.

Court filings and prosecutors’ statements alleged that the network moved from city to city and state to state in an effort to avoid detection by law enforcement. Zanetti was accused of managing the money pickup crews in the United States, including directing teams that travelled to collect cash from elderly victims. Several of those collectors were later arrested and sentenced.

Zanetti was arrested in Panama and extradited to the United States to face prosecution. U.S. authorities said his actions contributed to severe financial and emotional harm suffered by vulnerable victims and their families.

In addition to the prison term, Zanetti was ordered to pay a fine of $35,000 US and restitution of $780,870 US.

The case is also tied to a larger group of accused participants, including alleged network leader Gareth West. Most of the other accused individuals are still facing extradition proceedings and have not had the allegations against them tested in court. U.S. authorities are seeking to bring them to trial in Vermont.

One additional accused, Jimmy Ylimaki, was arrested in Nicaragua and brought to the United States.

U.S. prosecutors said the sentence reflects a broader commitment to pursuing those responsible for transnational fraud schemes, particularly those targeting elderly victims. The case also highlights the continued reach and sophistication of grandparent scams, which often exploit fear, urgency, and trust to pressure seniors into handing over large sums of money.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.