A Canadian man has received a 33-month federal prison sentence for helping operate a fraud scheme that targeted approximately 20 elderly Americans and resulted in a $256,000 restitution order.
Paul Conneh, 39, of Moncton, New Brunswick, was sentenced on October 6, 2026, in Vermont after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III imposed the prison term and ordered Conneh to pay $256,000 in restitution to victims. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, Conneh participated in the operation for approximately three weeks during July and August 2023. Despite his relatively brief involvement, authorities linked his activities to a scheme that defrauded roughly 20 elderly Americans.
Investigators determined that Conneh helped coordinate the collection and movement of money obtained through a grandparent scam. These schemes typically involve criminals impersonating a victim’s grandchild or another trusted individual, claiming an urgent emergency requires immediate financial assistance. Fraudsters often invent stories involving arrests, accidents or unexpected legal expenses to pressure elderly victims into providing money. In Conneh’s case, court records show that he recruited individuals posing as bail bondsmen to travel to the United States and collect funds. He then helped launder the proceeds and distribute the money among other participants in the operation.
Conneh’s involvement eventually led to an international investigation and arrest. Acting on a request from American authorities, law enforcement officers apprehended him in Costa Rica on January 23, 2025. He remained subject to extradition proceedings before authorities transferred him to the United States in December 2025. On May 28, 2026, Conneh pleaded guilty to both conspiracy charges, acknowledging his role in the fraudulent operation. His sentencing concluded the criminal proceedings against him while establishing a financial restitution obligation intended to compensate affected victims.
The investigation required cooperation among several American and international law enforcement agencies. Homeland Security Investigations personnel based in Vermont worked alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection and IRS Criminal Investigation. Authorities also received assistance from Homeland Security Investigations in Panama, Interpol, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the American Embassy in Costa Rica and Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department. These coordinated efforts helped investigators locate Conneh, secure his arrest and complete the extradition process. Federal prosecutors Nate Burris and Michelle Arra handled the case.
The prosecution underscores the cross-border nature of financial crimes targeting older adults. Grandparent scams exploit personal relationships and manufactured emergencies, often pressuring victims to act before verifying the circumstances. Criminal networks can also recruit individuals in different countries to collect, transfer and conceal stolen funds, making investigations more complex. U.S. authorities continue to encourage victims and their families to report suspected elder fraud.
Americans aged 60 and older can seek assistance through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11, which provides a free reporting and support resource for those affected by financial scams. If you reside in Canada, report all fraud and scams to your local police, or call PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501.
