AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 20-year-old Indian national living in the U.S. on a student visa has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for his role in a money laundering scheme that defrauded elderly Americans out of nearly $2.7 million.
Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, from Navsari, Gujarat, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
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From July to August 2024, Patel participated in a scam that targeted elderly victims through phishing tactics and impersonation of U.S. government officials. According to the DOJ, Patel received large amounts of cash and gold from the victims, passed a portion on to co-conspirators, and kept some for himself.
The scheme impacted at least 25 victims, with a total intended loss estimated at $2,694,156.
Patel was arrested on August 24, 2024, by the Granite Shoals Police Department.
“This defendant took advantage of his visa status in our country and participated in an international fraud scheme,” said U.S. 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.
This sentence demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting such schemes and securing justice for the victims.”
