Press release
A 29-year-old male resident of Monreal, Quebec faces federal charges following a cooperative investigation initiated by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 11, 2023, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office received the complaint of fraud from a resident in the Town of Arcade. The victim, a 74-year-old female, believed she had fallen victim to a “Grandparent Fraud Scheme”.
The suspect had called the victim, pretending to be the victim’s grandson, and demanded $9,000.00 cash for bail. The victim was told not to tell anybody about the payment, and that a courier would arrive at the victim’s residence to pick up the cash.
Following investigation by Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, Mohamed K. Sakr,
age 29, of Montreal, Quebec, is now alleged to have driven to the victim’s residence and taken
the $9,000.00 cash from the victim. Sakr is believed to have been involved in at least 20 completed or attempted thefts, with an amount of total identified theft to have reached over $250,000.00 in United States Currency.
Through investigation, Sakr was linked to thefts in Wyoming, Erie, Cayuga, Oswego, Onondaga, Tioga, Broome, Oneida and Herkimer Counties which had occurred between the dates of May 9, 2023 and May 13, 2023. These crimes were identified through a collaborative investigative effort between the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, and the Homeland Security Investigations Nickel City
Financial Task Force.
An arrest warrant was issued for Mohamed Sakr on July 11, 2023. Mohamed Sakr was taken into custody on the warrant on July 12, 2023, when Sakr was caught flying back into the United States into an airport in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sakr was held pending extradition to New York.
On August 23, 2023, Sakr was extradited by the United States Marshals Service on federal charges, and he was arraigned in the United States District Court for the Western District Of
New York.
Sakr is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. The state warrant was rescinded in lieu of federal charges, and Sakr remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further court appearances.
Throughout the investigation, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations were assisted by the following agencies:
Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Cayuga County Sheriff’s
Office, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Tioga County Sheriff’s Office, Mohawk Police
Department, Syracuse Police Department, Cheektowaga Police Department, Orchard Park Police
Department, Hamburg Police Department, Lancaster Police Department, and Camillus Police
Department.
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office reminds the people of Wyoming County to be skeptical of any unsolicited phone calls where a person is asking for money or personal information. The
“Grandparent Fraud Scheme” is one of the most frequent scam calls.
Further information on Elder Fraud Schemes can be viewed at the following websites:
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and crimes/elder-fraud
https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2021/PSA210729
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/scammers-use-fake-emergencies-steal-your-money
https://www.justice.gov/file/1494411/download