N.Y. man sentenced to nearly 3 years in prison for scamming R.I. seniors out of $350K

JASON HATCHER, 40, of New York, N.Y., was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for his role in scamming 14 elderly Rhode Island residents out of more than $350,000, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha said Monday. / COURTESY U.S. DISTRICT COURT

PROVIDENCE – A New York man was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for his role in scamming 14 elderly Rhode Island residents out of more than $350,000, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha said Monday. 

Jason Hatcher, 40, of New York, N.Y., pleaded guilty on July 5, 2020, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Two other defendants charged in the scheme, Bryan Valdez-Espinosa, 22, and Diego A. Alarcon, 22, of Union City, N.J., pleaded guilty in June. 

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U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith Monday sentenced Hatcher to thirty-three months in federal prison followed by three years of federal supervised release. Hatcher was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $394,033. 

The victims, who ranged from 79 to 94 years old, were scammed out of between $9,500 and $85,000 each for a total of $350,815, according to court documents. A family member intervened, leading to the arrest of Valdez-Espinosa, who was posing as a courier. 

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The victims were contacted by phone by callers impersonating family members or attorneys. They were told that a loved one, generally a grandchild, had been arrested after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, and needed cash bail. They were directed to gather cash for fake bail payments and told to provide the money to a courier who would be sent to their home. 

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