A Dominican national is now facing federal charges in Boston after prosecutors say he helped launder millions from a sprawling call center “grandparent” scam that preyed on older Americans across the country, including in Massachusetts. Hundreds of seniors were allegedly tricked into handing over cash and other payments after being convinced a loved one was in trouble.
Gerardo Heriberto Núñez Núñez, 42, was arrested in August 2025 in the Dominican Republic and extradited to the United States on March 18, 2026. He appeared the same day in U.S. District Court in Boston and was ordered detained pending trial. Núñez is charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy and had been indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts.
How investigators say the scheme worked
Prosecutors say English speaking call center workers followed a playbook to squeeze money out of frightened grandparents. First, “openers” posing as panicked grandchildren would call and claim they had been arrested, injured, or caught up in an emergency. Then “closers” posing as attorneys allegedly stepped in, instructing victims to turn over large sums of cash to runners or to ship packages stuffed with money. In some cases, investigators say, unsuspecting rideshare drivers were used as couriers.
According to charging documents, the callers allegedly relied on detailed scripts and stolen family names to make the hoax sound convincing. The money was then moved into U.S. bank accounts before being routed to the Dominican Republic, as described by Boston.com.
Scale and impact
Investigators identified more than 400 victims, with an average age of 84, and estimate that the scam generated losses of more than 5 million dollars. At least 50 of those victims were in Massachusetts, according to federal officials.
Prosecutors allege Núñez helped the operation by providing call center operators with access to U.S. bank accounts opened in the names of supposed businesses. He also allegedly helped arrange the hand delivery of victims’ cash to individuals in New York and other locations.
Charges, penalties and immigration status
If convicted on the money laundering conspiracy charge, Núñez faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, along with a fine of up to 500,000 dollars or twice the value of the funds laundered. He is also subject to deportation after serving any prison term.
The money laundering charge is part of a broader case that was first made public when the initial set of charges was unsealed in August 2025 and multiple arrests were announced, according to Boston 25 News.
Who investigated and what’s next
The investigation is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s Boston Field Office, with support from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic, according to reporting by Boston.com.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb is prosecuting the case. Núñez remains detained as pretrial proceedings continue in federal court in Boston.
How victims can get help
Authorities are urging anyone who believes they may have been targeted by this scheme to reach out for help. Potential victims can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office by emailing [email protected], call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or file a complaint through the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Center, according to Boston 25 News.
Officials say the investigation into the wider network behind the scam is still active, and additional arrests and efforts to seize assets remain on the table.
