Colonie police have made an arrest in the recent Grandparent Scam. Kelvin Pichardo of the Bronx is facing Grand Larceny Charges and police have elevated those charges to hate crime felonies because victims were specifically targeted because of their age.
Police have surveillance video they say shows Pichardo collecting $9,000 from a Colonie victim in September. Pichardo was picked up after police sent a "bait" package to him when another potential victim contacted police to say the suspects demanded $9,500 bail for their grandson be sent to Yonkers.
Police expect this will only be the first of multiple arrests as they have tracked potential suspects to Yonkers, New Jersey and Virginia.