Canadian man sentenced for scamming US grandparents

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors say a Canadian man has been sentenced in Los Angeles to more than four years in federal prison for his role in a scheme to dupe people into believing their grandchildren or other relatives were in trouble in foreign countries and needed money right away.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Kelen Magael Buchan of Nova Scotia pleaded guilty in May to wire fraud. At his sentencing this week, the 27-year-old was ordered to pay $519,000 in restitution.

Investigators say Buchan and co-defendants contacted victims in California and throughout the U.S. and falsely told them their relatives needed money immediately to fix a car or bail out of jail or pay hospital bills.

The victims made wire transfers of thousands of dollars.

Three co-defendants face trial in December.