Two Indian nationals studying in the United States have received federal prison sentences in separate yet comparable fraud cases involving intricate scams that targeted elderly Americans, leading to millions of dollars in losses. Kishan Rajesh kumar Patel, 20, who arrived in the US on a student visa, was sentenced this week to 63 months (over five years) in prison after admitting guilt to conspiracy to commit money laundering. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that Patel was involved in an online phishing conspiracy that impersonated US government officials and employed fear tactics to extract money and gold from senior citizens. “The conspiracy utilized various online phishing techniques and impersonated US government officials, while Patel illicitly received cash and gold from victims, passing a portion to co-conspirators and retaining a share for his own gain,” stated the DOJ. An investigation revealed that the scheme defrauded at least 25 elderly victims, with an intended loss amounting to $2,694,156. Patel was apprehended on August 24, 2024, in Granite Shoals, Texas, while attempting to collect what he believed to be $130,000. He has been in federal custody since August 29.
“This defendant exploited his visa status in our country and engaged in an international fraud scheme,” remarked US Attorney Justin Simmons, adding, “Patel defrauded vulnerable American citizens out of millions of dollars by impersonating government officials and exploiting his victims’ fears of negative government action.” His co-defendant, Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya, also an Indian national, pleaded guilty on June 16, 2025, and is currently awaiting sentencing. In a related but distinct case, Moinuddin Mohammed, another Indian student, was sentenced earlier this year to eight years in prison for a similar scam that defrauded elderly Americans of nearly $6 million. His case also involved impersonation tactics and the international laundering of the stolen funds. While all three individuals were in the US on student visas, US authorities have not disclosed the educational institutions they were enrolled in. The US Justice Department and FBI continue to urge caution, particularly among seniors, against unsolicited communications from individuals claiming to represent government or law enforcement agencies.
