Quebec Man Arrested in Nicaragua, Extradited to U.S. In ‘Grandparent Fraud’ Scheme
A 36-year-old resident of Quebec, Jimmy Ylimaki, has been extradited to the United States to face charges related to a large-scale fraud targeting elderly Americans, authorities announced on March 25, 2026. The case highlights the increasingly international nature of scams preying on vulnerable populations.
Ylimaki was initially arrested in Nicaragua and appeared in U.S. Federal court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered him to be held while the legal proceedings continue.
The arrest follows a prior incident on June 4, 2024, when police executed a search warrant at a call center in Quebec. Investigators found numerous “call lists” on Ylimaki’s desk containing the names, addresses, phone numbers, ages, and annual incomes of elderly Americans. Authorities allege Ylimaki was actively making calls at the time of the raid.
Ylimaki had fled Canada and been actively sought by U.S. Authorities as part of a larger investigation into a fraud scheme involving approximately 25 Canadians, most of whom resided in Montreal. The group is accused of defrauding American seniors out of more than $21 million USD earlier in March.
Prosecutors say Ylimaki played the role of “the lawyer” in a sophisticated script used to deceive victims. The scheme typically involved a fraudster posing as a family member – often a grandchild – claiming to be in legal trouble, such as following a car accident. Details of the operation were released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The development underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in combating transnational fraud schemes that exploit the trust of elderly individuals. TVA Nouvelles reported on the arrest in Nicaragua. Three other individuals involved in similar schemes were sentenced earlier in January.
