The Crossville Chronicle reports that Volodymyr Katauev, a 25-year-old Ukrainian man, pleaded guilty in Cumberland County Criminal Court to attempted theft of over $10,000 in a scam targeting an elderly resident. The scam involved coercing the victim over the phone to send $50,000, falsely claiming it was a fine for violations against their Social Security number by the Federal Trade Commission.

The victim was warned against contacting anyone, citing a fabricated violation of the Privacy Protocol Act of 1974, a common tactic used by scammers. Investigators from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Crime Unit intervened, setting up a sting operation by communicating with the scammer and using a decoy package to apprehend Katauev, who was acting as a courier for the criminal organization.

Arrested on June 18, Katauev has been in custody since, receiving credit for 83 days served. He was sentenced to four years, suspended for a probationary period under judicial diversion, though an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer makes deportation likely. An interpreter assisted Katauev during his court appearance to ensure he understood the proceedings and his rights before entering his plea.