A Dominican national accused of laundering money from a large-scale elder fraud scheme was extradited to the United States and appeared in federal court in Boston on March 18. Gerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, 42, was arrested in August 2025 in the Dominican Republic at the request of U.S. authorities and is charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy.
The case involves a transnational call center operation based in the Dominican Republic that allegedly targeted hundreds of elderly victims across the United States, including at least 50 in Massachusetts. According to charging documents, English-speaking employees of the call center carried out so-called “grandparent scams,” convincing victims—whose average age was 84—that their grandchildren or other close relatives were in trouble and needed money. The investigation identified more than 400 victims and over $5 million in losses.
Prosecutors allege that Nuñez Nuñez acted as a money launderer for the operation by providing access to bank accounts under business names, into which cash collected by runners from victims was deposited. He also allegedly arranged for cash hand-deliveries to individuals in New York and elsewhere before transferring funds back to call center operators in the Dominican Republic, charging a fee of approximately eight to ten percent for his services.
Charges against Nuñez Nuñez and twelve others involved with the call center or as runners were unsealed in August 2025. Authorities encourage anyone who believes they may be a victim of this or similar elder fraud schemes to contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Suspected fraud can also be reported through the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center.
If convicted, Nuñez Nuñez faces up to twenty years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the amount laundered. He would also be subject to deportation after serving any sentence imposed. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division, announced these developments. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted with securing arrest and extradition; support also came from several law enforcement agencies within the Dominican Republic.