A Florida man has been sentenced for his role in a “Grandparent Scam” in Cayuga County.
Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci has announced that 25-year-old Joel Mathilda was sentenced on Tuesday to between 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison. On March 26, Mathilda pled guilty to a felony count of Grand Larceny and a misdemeanor count of Conspiracy.
On February 8, 2023, Mathilda and his two codefendants, Davide Invidia Arias of Florida and Jose Fermin Vasquez of Maryland, attempted to steal $24,000 from elderly victims in Throop by claiming over the phone that the victim’s grandson needed bail after a motor vehicle accident.
The Cayuga County County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and Finger Lakes Drug Task Force were able to locate and apprehend the three men in Syracuse.
$20,000 was able to be returned to the victims.
Invidia Arias and Ferin Vaquez have already been sentenced to five years probation after previously pleading guilty to Grand Larceny.
All three men have also been required to pay restitution for the money which was not recovered.
