Boston man gets 2-5 years in grandparent scams

CONCORD - A Boston man has been sentenced to two to five years in state prison for his role in grandparent scams targeting the elderly.
On Nov. 4, 2020, Starlyn Javier Lara Pimental, 27, of Roxbury, Mass., was arrested by Keene Police while attempting to pick up $32,000 in cash from an elderly victim in furtherance of such a scam. The day before the arrest, one of Pimental's coconspirators called and falsely told the victim that the victim's grandchild was in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in the death of another. The coconspirator told the victim that the victim needed to pay compensation in the amount of $32,000 cash.
Following Pimental's arrest, further investigation revealed that in October 2020, Pimental obtained $18,000 in cash from an elderly victim in Nashua, in furtherance of another grandparent scam. In that case, a coconspirator called and falsely told the victim that the victim's grandchild was in a motor vehicle accident, was arrested, and the victim would need to pay $18,000 in cash for the grandchild's release.
On Aug. 6, 2021, Pimental pleaded guilty to one class A felony count of theft by deception and one class A felony count of attempted theft by deception for his role in both Grandparent scams.
The Cheshire County Superior Court sentenced Mr. Pimental to serve 2 to 5 years in the New Hampshire State Prison, stand committed, on the theft by deception conviction. In addition, he was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the Nashua victim. He previously paid $8,000 in restitution prior to his sentencing.
On the attempted theft by deception conviction, the Court sentenced Mr. Pimental to 2 to 5 years in the New Hampshire State Prison, all of which is suspended for 15 years. The suspended sentence is conditioned upon his good behavior. As a condition of both sentences, Pimental is to have no contact with the victims and shall not trespass on their property.
Investigator Calice Couchman-Ducey of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau jointly investigated these cases with the Keene and Nashua Police Departments.
Anyone who thinks someone has been a victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation is urged to contact their local police department and the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (1-800-949-0470).