A Cleveland man pleaded guilty in federal court to laundering money tied to an international grandparent fraud scheme that used rideshare drivers to move cash from elderly victims.
Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy before Senior U.S. District Judge Nora Bary Fischer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Federal prosecutors said the fraud was run for years by an organized crime group based in the Dominican Republic.
The callers targeted elderly people by pretending to be a loved one, often a grandchild, and falsely claiming the relative was in a crisis and needed cash quickly, usually for bond connected to criminal charges.
The Victims Sent Cash Through Rideshare Drivers
After the calls, victims withdrew cash from their financial institutions. Prosecutors said the victims then gave the money to unsuspecting rideshare drivers from companies such as Uber and Lyft.
The drivers, who were described by prosecutors as unknowing, transported the cash, often across state lines, and delivered it to a member of the conspiracy.
The setup moved victims’ cash without sending a conspirator directly into a bank or victim’s home. The caller created the emergency, the victim withdrew money, and a rideshare driver carried the cash to the next person in the chain.
Rodriguez Admitted Receiving And Moving The Money
Prosecutors said Rodriguez’s role was to receive fraud proceeds from the Lyft or Uber drivers.
He then laundered the money by depositing it into financial institutions or wiring proceeds to the Dominican Republic. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Rodriguez knew the money had been obtained fraudulently.
His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2026.
He Faces Up To 20 Years
The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, or both.
The final sentence will be determined under federal sentencing guidelines and will depend on the seriousness of the offense and Rodriguez’s criminal history, if any.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting the case. The FBI investigated with the Parma Police Department in Ohio and six Western Pennsylvania police departments: Millcreek Township, Grove City, Scott Township, Fox Chapel, Finley Township, and Hermitage.
Emergency Cash Pickups Are A Red Flag
Grandparent scams often begin with a caller pretending to be a grandchild, lawyer, police officer, or court official. The caller may claim a loved one has been arrested, hurt, or involved in a crash and needs money immediately.
A demand for cash through a courier, rideshare driver, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift card, or payment app should be treated as suspicious. Families can slow the scam by hanging up and calling the relative directly, using a known number, before any money moves.
Rideshare drivers can also be pulled into these scams without knowing it. A delivery request involving an envelope, box, or package of cash from an elderly person should be questioned and reported to the company or local police.