Case against male ‘pawn’ in scamming P.E.I. grandparents put off to new year [Video]

The case against a Chilean man accused of defrauding older Islanders in a so-called “grandparents scam” has been adjourned to the new year.

Luis Luciano David Cortez has been in jail since August on five charges of fraud. Four of those charges are for fraud over $5,000, while one is for under that amount.

His lawyer, Marc-Antoine Rock, appeared in court by phone today alongside the Crown’s lawyer. They both told Judge Jeff Lantz that Cortez is now facing additional charges in New Brunswick.

Cortez had already been charged in the Miramichi region of that province and made a court appearance in October. He is now also answering to a new charge in Campbellton.

Rock asked for a delay so that all of Cortez’s legal matters could be transferred to one jurisdiction. The case had already been adjourned this fall so that charges involving Summerside offences could be transferred to Charlottetown provincial court.

‘Pawns in a bigger scheme’

Meanwhile, Cortez’s partner has already pleaded guilty …