LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Phillipe Gravel-Nadon, a Canadian citizen extradited from Colombia, was sentenced on June 12 to five years and one month in federal prison for his role as a leader in a sweeping “grandparent scam” that defrauded hundreds of senior victims across the United States, including Kentucky.
The scam, orchestrated through Canadian-based call centers from August 2020 to May 2021, involved callers convincing seniors that a family member—often a grandchild—was in an emergency, such as a car accident, and urgently needed money.
Co-conspirators acted as “couriers” to collect cash from victims at their homes, while others laundered the proceeds through banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. Gravel-Nadon was identified as a manager or supervisor within the conspiracy.
The fraudulent operation resulted in losses exceeding $3 million. Gravel-Nadon was also ordered to pay $963,290 in restitution and will serve two years of supervised release following his prison term.
Several other defendants have been sentenced for their roles:
Robert Louis Sanchez (58, Albuquerque, NM) — 1.5 years for wire fraud conspiracy as a courier and “safehouse.”
Jairo Ostia Roberts (44, Panama) — 6 months prison, one year supervised release; acted as courier, deported after release.
Abel Diaz Adames (40, Panama) — 16 months prison and three years supervised release as courier.
Christopher Courcoulacos (47, Canadian, residing in Panama) — 6 years prison as a manager/supervisor.
Mark Anthony Phillips (45, Ruskin, FL) — 6 years prison for money laundering conspiracy, including charges transferred from New York.
Federal sentences have no parole, meaning each defendant must serve their full term unless granted early release through other means.
