Dubuque man pleads guilty in fraud scheme targeting elderly

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Dubuque man pleaded guilty this week in a fraud scheme in which elderly people were falsely told a relative was in jail and needed bail money wired to them.   

Carlos Rodriguez, 37, of Dubuque, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids Tuesday to one count of wire fraud. During the plea hearing, Rodriguez admitted he participated in a scheme to defraud people throughout the country and they primarily targeted the elderly.

Rodriguez admitted that other people called victims on the phone and told them a relative was in jail. The caller then asked the victims to wire money via Western Union or Money Gram to get the relative released.

The money was being wired to others involved in the scheme, who would pick up the wire transfers, Rodriguez admitted in the plea. He was one of those participants in and around Dubuque who received wire transfers from fraud victims. 

Court documents show participants in the scheme also sent wire transfers to locations in the Dominican Republic, using money obtained from the victims. Other money obtained through the scheme was deposited into various bank accounts.

The indictment includes 117 of the wire transfers sent in the scheme. The amounts vary from $725 to $2,500. Four others have been charged in the case.  

Rodriquez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine. Sentencing is to be set after a presentence report is prepared. Rodriguez remains in custody pending sentencing.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com