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Jasiel Correia, the former mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, was denied early release from his federal prison sentence following a 2021 conviction for public corruption and fraud. The 32-year-old, who is currently serving a six-year sentence at a Kentucky facility, failed to demonstrate sufficient grounds for sentence reduction to the presiding judge. Correia is scheduled for release in July 2026.

Jefferson County law enforcement officials warned about a rise in scam calls impersonating government agencies, claiming recipients have missed jury duty or have arrest warrants outstanding. Scammers are using local area codes and official names to appear legitimate, but legitimate agencies contact people by mail first and never request credit card or banking information over the phone. The Kentucky Court of Justice launched a website to help residents identify scams and report them to authorities.

Timothy Noble, 35, of Melbourne, Kentucky, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for using counterfeit money to defraud victims on Facebook Marketplace, including passing 41 fake $100 bills to purchase a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche for $4,700 in April 2022. Law enforcement discovered over 400 counterfeit notes in Noble's possession and evidence of at least three additional attempted fraud schemes using fake currency on the online marketplace in May 2022. Noble must serve 85 percent of his sentence and will face 3 years of supervised probation upon release.

The Better Business Bureau of Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana identified 10 prevalent scams in February, including romance scams, wage garnishment schemes, fake business listings, impersonation of law enforcement, fraudulent surveys, reshipping employment schemes, fake government benefits calls, Facebook account deactivation phishing, solar panel fraud, and government grant scams. The BBB advised consumers to verify companies before transactions, never pay with gift cards or wire transfers, avoid clicking unsolicited links, and refrain from providing personal information to unverified callers or unsolicited online contacts. Consumers are encouraged to check bbb.org before making purchases and to recognize that legitimate agencies never demand payment by phone.

Jeremy Clay Guthrie, a 45-year-old Alabama man, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for wire fraud and preparing false tax returns after stealing over $550,000 from his employer and customers while managing an aviary supply business in Kentucky. His scheme involved charging customer credit cards while diverting payments to his personal company, altering checks, offering unauthorized discounts for cash, and concealing fraudulent sales; he also underreported $325,543 in income to the IRS for 2016-2017. The court determined total criminal losses between $550,000 and $1.5 million, with restitution to victims pending.

John Sapienza, 60, of the Bronx was sentenced to 38 months in prison for aggravated identity theft and attempted bank fraud, along with co-defendant Tyshawn Wilson, who received 44 months. Between January 6-11, 2023, the pair travelled to multiple bank locations in New York and Kentucky attempting to withdraw funds from customer accounts using counterfeit IDs bearing Sapienza's photograph with victims' identifying information, until their arrest by Fort Thomas Police on January 11, 2023.

Scott Blair, a 51-year-old Commonwealth's Attorney in Perry County, Kentucky, was charged with honest services wire fraud for allegedly using his official position from April 2020 to March 2024 to assist criminal defendants in exchange for things of value, including sexual favors and methamphetamine. The FBI, Kentucky Attorney General's Office, and Kentucky State Police conducted the investigation that led to the federal criminal complaint filed on Friday.

At least two people in Calloway County, Kentucky fell victim to an impersonation scam over the weekend in which fraudsters posed as sheriff's deputies and claimed victims had missed jury duty and had active arrest warrants, demanding immediate payment via electronic transfer, wire services, or Bitcoin to avoid arrest. One victim lost approximately $900. Sheriff Nicky Knight emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never solicit money over the phone or in person for warrants or charges, and warned that scammers are becoming more sophisticated by spoofing official phone numbers and using publicly available information to appear credible.

McKala, a woman from Kentucky, was victimized by a romance scam over one year in which a scammer posing as actor Dacre Montgomery convinced her to send approximately 10,000 euros in gift cards while claiming to be in a secret relationship with her. The scammer manipulated McKala emotionally by confessing unhappiness in his own relationship and professing love, eventually convincing her to leave her husband, though they never met in person or spoke by phone. After investigators from the YouTube channel Catfished exposed the deception—including fake checks and stolen photos—McKala shared her story publicly to warn others about the dangers of online romance scams.

**Scam Type:** Elder fraud (various types) **Key Facts:** The FBI reported a 14% increase in elderly scams nationally, with over 101,000 complaints in 2023 resulting in $3.4 billion in losses. In Kentucky specifically, 908 elder scam cases led to $12.8 million in losses. Authorities attribute the rise to elderly individuals' greater trust, lower digital literacy, and scammers operating as organized full-time operations, recommending family members educate and monitor seniors to prevent victimization.

Kentucky experienced over 900 elder fraud scams in the past year, resulting in $12.8 million in losses to vulnerable seniors. The state has identified elder fraud as a growing problem affecting Kentuckians.

Kentucky experienced over 900 elder fraud cases in the past year, resulting in $12.8 million in losses to vulnerable elderly residents. The state is addressing the rising problem of scams targeting seniors.

This is a general news roundup for Kentucky rather than an article about elder fraud or scams. The content covers weather forecasts, severe storm damage, election results, a radio personality's career milestone, and various national news items. It does not contain information relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse and therefore cannot be summarized for the Elderus database.

In 2023, Americans older than 60 reported over $3.4 billion in fraud losses across more than 100,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, with losses increasing 11% from 2022. The most common scams targeting seniors include tech support and call center fraud ($1.3 billion in losses), phony investment schemes ($1.2 billion), and fake romance scams, with the particularly devastating "Phantom Hacker" scam draining victims of their life savings through multiple fraudulent personas. In Kentucky specifically, seniors reported $12.8 million in losses across 908 complaints, and the FBI notes that some victims have rem

Over 140 million American adults have been victims of fraud according to AARP's Fraud Watch Network. Patricia Kaster lost approximately $1.7 million in a 2023 impersonation scam where fraudsters posed as her bank's fraud department and the FTC, convincing her to liquidate assets and sell her house by falsely accusing her of money laundering. The FTC reported that consumers lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023, and AARP recommends hanging up on unsolicited calls and avoiding providing money or information to unknown callers as key fraud prevention strategies.

Following severe weather in Kentucky on April 2, scammers targeted disaster survivors by fraudulently applying for FEMA assistance using stolen personal information including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. FEMA warned survivors to verify their own applications and contact authorities if they receive unsolicited FEMA correspondence or inspectors, and advised that legitimate FEMA representatives carry official identification, never charge fees, and do not collect banking information. Survivors should report suspected scams to local law enforcement, the Kentucky Attorney General, or FEMA's fraud hotline.

FEMA issued a warning to survivors of April 2 storms in Kentucky about fraudsters using stolen personal information (names, addresses, Social Security numbers) to apply for disaster assistance on their behalf. Officials advise disaster survivors to verify FEMA communication through the official helpline (800-621-3362), avoid anyone demanding payment for disaster grants, and never share banking information with individuals claiming to be FEMA housing inspectors, as legitimate inspectors never request personal financial data.

Kentucky seniors lost nearly $13 million to fraud in 2023 and approximately $12.7 million already by mid-2024, according to FBI data. One victim, 75-year-old Patti Kaster, lost $1.7 million after being deceived into believing she was communicating with her bank regarding fraudulent Amazon orders, ultimately selling her home to liquidate assets. The FBI advises seniors to avoid clicking links from unknown sources, verify email addresses and sender identities, monitor financial statements, and contact authorities or trusted family members immediately if they notice suspicious activity or red flags.

Following the April 2 storms in Kentucky, FEMA warns disaster survivors in 11 affected counties that criminals are targeting them by fraudulently applying for FEMA assistance using stolen personal information like names, Social Security numbers, and addresses. Survivors should verify they did not apply if FEMA inspectors visit unsolicited, avoid anyone demanding payment for disaster grants, never provide banking information to FEMA representatives, and report suspected fraud to FEMA, local law enforcement, or the Kentucky Attorney General.

**Summary:** Elder fraud is escalating in Kentucky, with residents aged 60 and older losing over $12 million in the past five months to scams including pop-up malware, romance schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud. Law enforcement officials emphasize that education and public awareness are more effective than prosecution alone, urging families to discuss finances with elderly relatives, recognize warning signs, and report suspicious activity rather than engaging with unknown contacts.

Elder Kentuckians lost $12.8 million to scams in the previous year, with projections to double to $12.7 million by May of the current year, according to FBI officials who warn the problem is not declining. The three most common scams targeting Kentucky elders are investment fraud (including cryptocurrency and precious metals schemes), tech support fraud (phishing and fake security alerts), and romance fraud, with a detailed case study showing a 72-year-old woman losing nearly $200,000 to a military officer imposter who cultivated a romantic relationship with her over months before requesting money for military contract payouts and travel expenses. The investigation resulted in the indictment of three U

On June 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky observed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting that one in ten people over 60 experiences some form of elder abuse, with an estimated $28.3 billion lost annually to elder fraud scams. In 2023, Kentucky's FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received 908 complaints from individuals over 60 reporting $12.8 million in losses, more than any other age group combined. The Justice Department brought nearly 300 criminal and civil actions against over 650 defendants in the past year who stole more than $1.5 billion from 2.4

Elder fraud cases in the United States increased significantly in 2023, with over 100,000 scam complaints resulting in nearly $3.5 billion in losses—an 11% increase from the prior year. Kentucky residents reported over 900 instances of elderly scams in 2023 totaling $13 million, with 2024 tracking at $12.7 million already. The FBI advises seniors to review financial statements, shred personal documents, avoid clicking unknown links, and contact authorities or trusted family members if contacted by unfamiliar people, as scammers increasingly use tech support schemes, romance fraud, and data breaches.

AARP Kentucky hosted a "Scam Jam" educational event at the Lexington Senior Center that attracted over 200 attendees to learn about fraud prevention tactics. The event featured presentations from law enforcement agencies and emphasized that over 141 million adults have been affected by fraud, with seniors being particularly targeted due to their larger savings and retirement accounts. One documented case involved a woman who lost $1.7 million to a scam, highlighting the devastating financial impact these crimes can have.

While seniors are not more frequently targeted by financial scams than younger age groups, they lose more money per incident because they typically have greater accumulated wealth. AARP held a "Scam Jam" educational seminar in Lexington, Kentucky featuring officials from the Attorney General's office, Secret Service, and Better Business Bureau who advised seniors on fraud prevention, including proper disposal of sensitive documents and recognizing common scams like fraudulent insurance offers.

Robert Louis Sanchez of New Mexico was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison as the fifth defendant in a grandparent scam that defrauded hundreds of victims across the United States, including Kentucky, of over $3 million between August 2020 and May 2021. The scheme involved callers convincing seniors that a grandchild needed emergency money, with co-conspirators posing as couriers to collect cash and launder proceeds through banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. Sanchez served as both a courier and "safehouse" keeper for stolen funds, with four other co-conspirators previously sentenced to terms ranging from 6 months to 6 years in prison.

Robert Louis Sanchez, a 57-year-old from New Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a grandparent scam that targeted hundreds of elderly victims across the United States, resulting in over $3 million in losses. The scheme involved scammers calling seniors posing as grandchildren in distress (claiming car accidents or legal trouble) and then sending couriers to collect cash from victims' homes, with the money subsequently deposited in banks or laundered through cryptocurrency exchanges. Four other conspirators have also been convicted and sentenced, with charges pending against additional participants in the operation.

Kenton County Sheriff's Office is warning of a phone scam where callers threaten arrest for unpaid fines and claim a judge has issued a "gag order" preventing victims from reporting the call to officials. The scam has affected residents in Northern Kentucky, with one woman recently losing $9,000; law enforcement emphasized they will never call about fines or warrants and never demand payment via cash, check, gift cards, credit cards, or cryptocurrency.

Juan Carlos Arcena Cabrera, a New York resident, was sentenced to two years and two months in federal prison for defrauding a Kentucky senior of $59,000 through a "grandparent scam" in which he posed as the victim's grandson claiming an emergency need for money. Cabrera, who pleaded guilty to targeting multiple victims over years, coordinated with others to fabricate scenarios such as car accidents or legal troubles, then repeatedly contacted victims impersonating attorneys and professionals to extract additional funds. The case is part of a national trend of grandparent scams that the U.S. Justice Department has prioritized, with some scammers using voice-cloning technology to increase authent

Kentucky's Attorney General's Office released an updated 2024 Elder Abuse Prosecution Manual to be distributed to all local prosecutor offices, providing best practices for prosecuting cases involving personal, financial, and medical abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults. The office received nearly 1,300 elder abuse referrals in 2023, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem in the state. The manual represents an effort to enhance prosecution capabilities and protect Kentucky seniors from abuse and exploitation.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman released a revised 2024 Elder Abuse Prosecution Manual—a comprehensive 256-page resource first published in 2006—to guide prosecutors in handling cases involving personal, financial, and medical abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults. The manual is being distributed to all 57 Commonwealth's Attorney Offices and 120 County Attorney Offices across Kentucky, reflecting the state's recognition of elder abuse as a serious issue, with the AG's Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control receiving nearly 1,300 referrals in 2023.

A Northern Kentucky man lost nearly $300,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a woman on a dating site following his wife's death, highlighting the growing prevalence of romance scams that exploit vulnerable individuals seeking online connections. The article features testimony from a reformed Nigerian scammer who admitted to defrauding victims of thousands of dollars, and emphasizes key prevention strategies including video call verification, trusting gut instincts, and using identity verification services before engaging with online romantic interests.

Willie D. Watts, 42, of Clarksville, was sentenced to eighteen months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $125,753.90 in federal benefits from 2014 to 2021 by falsely claiming her three children lived with her and were eligible for Section 8 housing vouchers, SNAP, Social Security Survivors benefits, and Medicaid. Watts also concealed ownership of a house and rental income, and had previously committed nearly identical fraud in Kentucky (2011-2013), stealing over $30,000 before continuing the scheme in Indiana despite her Kentucky conviction.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned residents about smishing text scams impersonating SunPass, Florida's toll collection system, which falsely demand payment of unpaid tolls with $50 late fees and contain links designed to steal personal and financial information. The scams typically feature red flags such as unsolicited messages from unusually long phone numbers, shortened links, urgent language, and requests for personal data. Authorities recommend forwarding suspicious texts to SPAM (7726), reporting them to the Federal Trade Commission, and using phone spam filters.

Irene Fike, a 56-year-old Kentucky woman, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after defrauding a victim of over $363,000 between 2018 and 2022. While employed at an accounting firm and later hired as an independent contractor, Fike exploited her access to the victim's financial accounts to make unauthorized purchases and transfer funds to her personal credit card, falsifying financial records to conceal the scheme. She was ordered to pay $405,867.08 in restitution and will serve 85 percent of her sentence followed by three years of supervised release.

A senior couple in Boone County, Kentucky nearly fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam initiated by a pop-up message on their computer that directed them to call a number claiming their accounts were compromised. When they called the provided number, scammers instructed them to withdraw money and convert it to Bitcoin at a local vape shop, but an alert vape shop employee and the couple's own suspicions prompted them to contact the sheriff's office before completing the transaction. The Boone County Sheriff's Office successfully recovered the couple's funds, with deputies noting that recovering money in such scams is exceptionally rare.

Stephanie Collins, a 57-year-old pharmacist in Corbin, Kentucky, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for defrauding Medicare and Medicaid by submitting false claims for medications never dispensed to patients and billing for expensive diabetic test strips while providing cheaper alternatives. The scheme caused approximately $730,056 in fraudulent reimbursements, and Collins was ordered to pay full restitution and serve five years of supervised release upon completion of her sentence.

Scams and fraud have surged nationwide, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting scams more than doubled in 2020, Kentucky alone losing $13 million in 2021, and elder fraud reports to the FBI increasing 62% between 2020-2021. Elderly residents are disproportionately affected but often fail to report incidents due to embarrassment, while criminals employ evolving tactics including skimming devices, robocalls (60% of U.S. calls in 2022), phishing emails, and business impersonation schemes. Detective Dean Hutchinson recommends verifying caller identities independently, ignoring unsolicited bank emails, and being cautious with payment apps

During election season, scammers exploit heightened political emotions through donation fraud via emails, phone calls, and social media. A west Kentucky resident reported receiving 10-20 fraudulent political donation emails daily from imposters posing as campaigns, though she avoided falling victim. The Better Business Bureau warns voters to avoid unsolicited links, pushy requests for personal information, phony donation calls offering rewards, and pop-up donations on social media—and advises researching campaigns, avoiding rushing donations, and never sharing sensitive data like Social Security numbers or birth dates with survey takers.

A 77-year-old Stuart, Florida retiree nearly lost $10,000 in a phone scam where a caller impersonating a customer service representative instructed him to withdraw cash and mail it via UPS; his caregiver alerted police who intercepted the package in Louisville, Kentucky, and recovered all the money. A bank security expert emphasized that tellers should question elderly customers about large cash withdrawals and that banks should implement verification procedures with family members before releasing substantial sums. The victim warns other seniors to remain vigilant, and recommends setting up checks and balances with banks to prevent similar fraud.

A spoofing scam targeting bank customers is costing Americans millions annually, with scammers using caller ID spoofing to impersonate banks and convince victims to transfer money to prepaid debit cards under the guise of fraudulent account activity. One Kentucky woman lost nearly $10,000 after transferring funds to a prepaid card based on a fraudulent call claiming to be from her bank. The Better Business Bureau advises recipients of suspicious messages to avoid clicking links or sharing account information, as transferred funds are typically irretrievable.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky presented 2024 Law Enforcement Excellence Awards to ten federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals for their outstanding work on priority cases including violent crime, drug trafficking, elder fraud, COVID fraud, government fraud, public corruption, and child exploitation. United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV recognized these officers and organizations for their dedicated investigative efforts that contributed to successful federal prosecutions.

Jennifer Lynn Horton, 49, of Kentucky, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing over $1.1 million from her employer, a family-owned contracting company in Indiana, between 2016 and 2022. Using her position as office manager, Horton inflated her salary by $515,000, fraudulently added her husband to payroll for $107,000, redirected customer credit card payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to her personal account, and misused company credit cards for personal purchases including vehicles and a house. She concealed the theft by manipulating payroll data and accounting records, and was ordered to forfeit four vehicles an

An uptick in jury duty scams has been reported across multiple U.S. locations, where scammers impersonate court officials or police officers and threaten victims with fines or arrest for allegedly missing jury duty, demanding immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Incidents have been documented in Elkhart County, Indiana and Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with authorities emphasizing that legitimate courts communicate about jury duty through official mail only and never solicit payments or personal information by phone or email. Citizens should verify caller claims independently, avoid immediate payments, and report suspicious calls to local law enforcement or the court clerk's office.

Members of Versailles Presbyterian Church in central Kentucky received fraudulent emails impersonating interim Pastor Katherine Redmond requesting gift cards for hospice patients. The scam targeted church congregants' charitable impulses, but the pastor quickly alerted attendees to block the scammer's email address, and no victims were reported. The Better Business Bureau warned that gift card requests—particularly those claiming emergency situations—are a common scam tactic because gift cards are non-recoverable.

Kentucky's Administrative Office of the Courts launched a new webpage to help residents identify and report payment scams, particularly those falsely claiming unpaid arrest warrants or missed jury duty. The resource provides educational materials including scam tactic videos, county-specific jury service information, and fraud reporting contacts to help Kentuckians protect themselves from these schemes.

An educational presentation at the Adair County Extension Office by Shellie A. May from Kentucky's Office of Senior Protection addressed identity theft prevention for seniors. The presentation explained how identity theft occurs (through data breaches, phishing, and physical theft), identified common tactics (dumpster diving, mail theft, password compromise), and provided protective measures including regular credit monitoring, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and statement review. Consumers can report scams to the Kentucky Attorney General's office at ag.ky.gov/scams or 1-888-432-9257.

Experts are warning the public about romance scams, particularly ahead of Valentine's Day, where scammers impersonate celebrities or create fake personas to build relationships and request money from victims. Red flags include quick declarations of love, requests for money, reluctance to meet in person, and insistence on communication only through dating platforms. According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter scams were Kentucky's most common fraud type in 2024, with scammers stealing $2.7 billion nationally in that year; financial experts recommend consulting trusted friends or bank representatives when uncertain about suspicious requests.

The Better Business Bureau warns of romance scams targeting people around Valentine's Day, in which scammers create fake dating profiles (often posing as military members or overseas workers) to build emotional connections with victims before requesting money for fabricated financial crises. Red flags include profiles that seem perfect, requests to move communication off dating platforms quickly, early declarations of love, avoidance of in-person meetings, and requests for money. The BBB recommends verifying information through reverse-image searches, discussing potential matches with trusted friends and family, and reporting suspicious profiles to BBB.org/Scamtracker.

A 74-year-old woman in Danville, Kentucky lost her life savings of $179,000 to a combined federal impersonation and gold coin scam in January-February 2024. The scammer posed as the Social Security Administration and Inspector General's Office, threatening her with prison and fraud charges, then convinced her to meet in person at a Lexington bank where she exchanged cash for gold coins that were never returned. The victim became so distraught that she attempted suicide; her grandson is sharing the story to raise awareness and help the FBI investigation.