Two Gujaratis sentenced to 63 months jail for defrauding elderly Americans while on student visa
Two Indian nationals studying in the United States were sentenced to 63 months in prison for conspiring and defrauding elderly victims by a federal court in Austin. Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, 20, of Navsari, Gujarat, conspired with co-defendant Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya and others to defraud elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold from July 2024 through August 2024, according to court documents.The accused 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. To date, the investigation has determined that the conspiracy defrauded at least 25 victims with a total intended loss of at least $26,94,156 (₹23,32,68,136).Patel was arrested by the Granite Shoals Police Department on August 24, 2024, after he retrieved a box containing $1,30,000 from a victim’s residence. He was transferred into federal custody on August 29 and pleaded guilty on March 18. Patel’s sentence was handed down by US District Judge Robert Pitman.“This defendant took advantage of his visa status in our country and participated in an international fraud scheme,” said US Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Patel defrauded vulnerable American citizens out of millions of dollars by impersonating government officials and preying on his victims’ fears of adverse government action. Today’s sentence demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting the perpetrators of such nefarious schemes and achieving justice for the victims.”Mangukiya pleaded guilty on June 16 and awaits his sentencing.
Two Indian nationals studying in the United States were sentenced to 63 months in prison for conspiring and defrauding elderly victims by a federal court in Austin.
Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, 20, of Navsari, Gujarat, conspired with co-defendant Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya and others to defraud elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold from July 2024 through August 2024, according to court documents.
The accused 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. To date, the investigation has determined that the conspiracy defrauded at least 25 victims with a total intended loss of at least $26,94,156 (₹23,32,68,136).
Patel was arrested by the Granite Shoals Police Department on August 24, 2024, after he retrieved a box containing $1,30,000 from a victim’s residence. He was transferred into federal custody on August 29 and pleaded guilty on March 18. Patel’s sentence was handed down by US District Judge Robert Pitman.
“This defendant took advantage of his visa status in our country and participated in an international fraud scheme,” said US Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Patel defrauded vulnerable American citizens out of millions of dollars by impersonating government officials and preying on his victims’ fears of adverse government action. Today’s sentence demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting the perpetrators of such nefarious schemes and achieving justice for the victims.”
Mangukiya pleaded guilty on June 16 and awaits his sentencing.
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