Canadian man wanted in connection with multimillion-dollar grandparent scam arrested in Nicaragua
CBC
A Canadian man wanted for more than a year in connection with a massive grandparent scam has been arrested in Nicaragua.
Jimmy Ylimaki, 36, was apprehended in Nicaragua and removed to the U.S., according to a press release from the Vermont district attorney.
Ylimaki is facing up to 20 years in prison for his alleged role in the scam. He is described in court documents as having operated as an “attorney,” pretending to be a lawyer requesting money from potential elderly victims.
The scam network Ylimaki is alleged to be a part of operated out of Montreal, according to police. It allegedly scammed hundreds of victims, mostly American seniors, out of $30 million.
The alleged head of the network, Gareth West, posed as a real estate mogul. He was the subject of a CBC investigation in June 2025
When charges were first laid against the group last March, police arrested two dozen people in the Montreal area, but West and Ylimaki were on the run.
West was arrested at an Airbnb in Saint-Colomban, Que., in July 2025.
Ylimaki was the only member of the alleged group of scammers who was still at large.
In the summer of 2025, a source with knowledge of Ylimaki's movements told CBC that he was living in a coastal city in Costa Rica, a place where, before he was charged, he had featured in his social media posts.
After West was arrested, the source said Ylimaki left Costa Rica and travelled to Nicaragua.
Ylimaki is now being held in the U.S. The other alleged members of the scam are currently contesting their extradition to the U.S. Extradition proceedings are ongoing.
The allegations against Ylimaki have not yet been tested in court. He appeared in a U.S. court in Vermont on Wednesday and entered a plea of not guilty.
Saskatoon city hall administration is planning to "refresh" the funding strategy for the proposed $1.2-billion downtown arena district amid a lack of commitments from higher levels of government.
A report of fraud tied to a walleye derby is under investigation after Montreal Lake Cree Nation said a participant allegedly violated derby rules and was asked to leave the fishing area.
An Edmonton architectural firm says it is in talks with the provincial government to potentially redevelop the former Royal Alberta Museum.
Does junior football have a future in Prince George?
People are descending upon the city for the dozens of events and live music performances this week as the Juno Awards are set to take place Sunday at Hamilton's TD Coliseum.
For nearly two decades, Amanda Loewen's world ended where the pavement did.
The notion that home ownership guarantees financial security in old age is being challenged by a recent survey.
The family of Nash Prystie has identified him as the man who died in an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shooting earlier this month north of Kenora, and is calling for more and quicker help for people with mental health challenges.
Playoff action in the Ontario Hockey League gets underway Thursday night for Guelph and Friday in Kitchener.
UPEI wants its faculty to sign on to an updated version of its sexual assault and discrimination policy, but the union that represents the school's academic staff says it wants the policies to be part of its collective agreement.
In Texas this week for a global energy conference, the federal natural resources minister is proclaiming "Canada is back" and ready to bolster its energy sector and grow exports.
Members of Parliament last year went on the fewest sponsored international trips in the last 15 years, excluding the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ontario is running out of time to beef up rules that would crack down on negligent and misbehaving municipal politicians ahead of the next civic election, some experts and opposition critics warn.