Department of Justice Observes the 15th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

            Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., joins Attorney General William P. Barr and the entire Department of Justice in observing the 15^th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Department echoes voices around the world condemning elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.

            The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our country and the world, but among those most severely affected by the threat of the novel virus are our senior citizens. During this time when seniors are isolated from their families and loved ones by social distancing and quarantine restrictions, bad actors have immediately exploited this international tragedy to prey on the elderly through a whole host of scam and fraud schemes. As the world takes this day to remember the elderly during these uncertain times, the Department of Justice remains relentlessly committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative, to prevent and prosecute fraud on America’s seniors.

            “Fraud and abuse against the elderly are despicable crimes that target some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” stated U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., from the Middle District of Alabama. “Criminals often take advantage of victims because of advanced age or illness, especially during times of crisis, and they are working overtime to stir up the health and financial fears we all are experiencing. I encourage everyone to remain diligent to avoid being victimized, and to check in on at-risk family members and friends regularly. Early detection of fraudulent activity provides the best chance of mitigating losses and identifying the perpetrator.”

            In a recent case prosecuted in the Middle District of Alabama, Montreal Holley, a former Regions Bank employee, was sent to prison for taking advantage of an elderly customer and convincing her to trust only him to handle her money. In just a few months, he managed to swindle her out of over $300,000. Thankfully, bank investigators quickly identified the criminal activity and worked with federal agents to bring him to justice. In February of this year, Holley was sentenced to 37 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution to Regions Bank, which had credited all the stolen funds back into the customer’s account.

            The Department will aggressively prosecute fraudsters exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic and targeting seniors offering them fake testing kits and fake help obtaining stimulus and Paycheck Protection Program Funds. On this day dedicated to recognizing our seniors, the Department of Justice sends a strong message that we continue the fight to keep seniors safe a top priority.

            Earlier this year Attorney General Barr declared “Prevention and Disruption of Transnational Elder Fraud” to be an Agency Priority Goal, making it one of the Department’s four top priorities.

            Major strides have already been made to that end:

• National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11
  Earlier this year Attorney General Barr launched a National Elder Fraud Hotline. Staffed by experienced case managers who provide personalized support to callers, the hotline serves to assist elders and caretakers who believe they have been a victim of fraud by reporting and providing appropriate services.
   
• Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force: Established in June 2019 to combat foreign elder fraud schemes, the Strike Force is composed of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law enforcement personnel. Since its inception, prosecutors in Strike Force districts brought cases against more than 140 sweep defendants.
   
• Annual Elder Justice Sweep: In March of this year, the Attorney General announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in department history. The Department, together with every U.S. Attorney’s office, charged more than 400 defendants, causing over $1 billion in loss through fraud schemes that largely affected seniors.
   
• Money Mule Initiative: Since October 2018, the Department and its law enforcement partners began a concentrated effort across the country and around the world to disrupt, investigate, and prosecute money mule activity used to facilitate fraud schemes, especially those victimizing senior citizens. In 2019 actions were taken to halt the conduct of more than 600 domestic money mules, exceeding a similar effort against approximately 400 mules in the previous year.
   
• Holding foreign-based perpetrators and those that flee the United States accountable: Transnational criminal organizations are targeting our elder population in schemes including mass mailing fraud, grandparent scams, romance scams, lottery and sweepstakes scams, IRS and Social Security Administration imposter scams, and technical-support scams.

            For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.