2 Indian students sentenced to prison in US for multi-million dollar fraud targeting elderly Americans

In a statement, the Department of Justice said “The conspiracy used various online phishing methods and impersonated US government officials, while Patel fraudulently received the cash and gold from victims, conveying a portion to co-conspirators and keeping a percentage for his own benefit.”

According to a PTI report, the fraudulent scheme defrauded at least 25 elderly American citizens to the tune of over $2 million ($2,694,156). Patel was arrested in August 2024 in Granite Shoals, Texas where he was collecting $130,000. Patel has been in federal custody since August 29 last year.

The United States Attorney Justin Simmons said “This defendant took advantage of his visa status in our country and participated in an international fraud scheme. Patel defrauded vulnerable American citizens out of millions of dollars by impersonating government officials and preying on his victims’ fears of adverse government action.”

Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya, a co-defendant in Patel’s case, has also pleaded guilty in the fraud case and is awaiting sentencing in the matter.

In a separate case, another Indian student Moinuddin Mohammed, who was also in the United States on a student visa, was sentenced to eight years in jail for a similar scam that conned elderly Americans of nearly $6 million, reported PTI.

(with inputs from PTI)