Fugitive Pleads Guilty in U.S. Fraud Trial

Jimmy Ylimaki changed his plea from not guilty to guilty in a U.S. federal court on October 19. The Montreal man faces sentencing in January for his role in a grandparent scam targeting American seniors. He is currently scheduled to face a judge for the determination of his prison term, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.

Ylimaki was identified as a closer in the alleged operation. Prosecutors state he posed as an attorney representing family members of victims. He convinced elderly individuals to send large sums of cash, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, to secure the release of a relative from jail. Over a 67-week period within the three-year conspiracy, Ylimaki was paid more than $367,000 U.S. dollars.

The alleged leader of the network, Gareth West, ran a real estate investment business across Ontario and Quebec. West also maintained a public persona as an influencer and amateur bodybuilder. Co-conspirators operated call centers in the Montreal area to reach victims. Thirty-one other defendants are currently in Canada, contesting extradition to the U.S. while facing similar fraud charges.

U.S. assistant district attorney Nathanael Burris described Ylimaki as having been caught red-handed during a police raid in June 2024. Officers found Ylimaki hiding in a downstairs shower at a building owned by West. At the time, Ylimaki had been calling U.S. seniors just before the officers arrived. The initial raid did not lead to immediate charges, and Ylimaki subsequently traveled to Costa Rica.

Ylimaki spent approximately one year as a fugitive. A March 2026 filing indicates he researched extradition laws in Central America. He learned that Costa Rica cooperated with the U.S. on extradition requests, while neighboring Nicaragua had historically refused such requests. Burris stated that Ylimaki crossed the border into Nicaragua to avoid capture. U.S. authorities apprehended him in Nicaragua in March 2026 and removed him to the U.S., though details of the operation remain unclear.

Prosecutors noted that conspiracy members frequently used cryptocurrency for transactions. This practice made it difficult to determine the true extent of Ylimaki's resources. The scheme is alleged to have generated tens of millions of dollars for the network before key members were arrested or fled.