A California man will serve 46 months in prison after convincing elderly people to pay thousands of dollars to scammers who claimed the money would help their grandchildren or loved ones, federal officials say.

Jack Owuor, 25, was sentenced Wednesday for what authorities call a “grandparent scam” that netted up to tens of thousands of dollars from elderly people.

Owuor, of Paramount, California, pleaded guilty on March 9 to one count of conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. 

The department said he was part of a network of people who called the victims and pretended to be their grandchildren, other relatives, or friends.

To lure victims in, the release said the callers claimed loved ones:

  • Had legal trouble and needed bail money.
  • Needed money to prevent additional charges from being filed.
  • Needed help with medical expenses for car accident victims.

The defendants then convinced their targets to give them the money in person, via mail or wire transfer. The defendants then concealed the money, including through cryptocurrency, prosecutors said.

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Owuor picked up cash from multiple victims and recruited and directed other members of the network to help with the scam, the release said.

“Owuor and the criminal enterprise he was a part of preyed upon our elderly population, defrauding some of our most vulnerable and often most trusting citizens,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy, from the FBI’s San Diego Field Office.