HOUSTON – Harsh Patel, 28, an Indian national formerly residing in Piscataway, New Jersey, has confessed to his role in a sprawling, multi-million dollar fraud operation originating from call centers in India. Patel pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, admitting to acting as a key “runner” in a scheme that terrorized American citizens with threats of arrest and deportation.
The scam, orchestrated by individuals in Ahmedabad, India, involved impersonating officials from the IRS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Victims across the United States were targeted, fed fabricated stories of unpaid taxes or immigration violations, and strong-armed into sending money to avoid severe consequences. The operation relied heavily on stolen personal information obtained from data brokers, turning fear into profit.
Patel’s job wasn’t making the calls, but cashing in on the fear. From around January 2015, he operated primarily in New Jersey, California, and Illinois, purchasing reloadable cards using the stolen identities of U.S. citizens. Victims, believing they were settling debts with the government, loaded these cards with their money. Patel then liquidated the funds, converting them into money orders and depositing them into various bank accounts – all while skimming a percentage for himself. He also accepted fake IDs from co-conspirators to receive wire transfers, further obscuring the trail of stolen funds.
This guilty plea marks the third conviction in a case that has already ensnared 55 individuals and five India-based call centers, indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas on October 19, 2016. Co-defendants Bharatkumar Patel, aka Bharat Patel, 43, and Ashvinbhai Chaudhari, 28, previously pleaded guilty on April 13, 2017, and April 26, 2017, respectively. The investigation was a collaborative effort led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG), and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez of the Southern District of Texas, alongside Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco, and Inspectors General J. Russell George and John Roth, announced the guilty plea. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, along with local law enforcement in multiple states, also provided vital support. Patel’s sentencing is scheduled for August 7, 2017, where he will face the consequences of his participation in this elaborate and predatory scheme.
While authorities continue to pursue the remaining defendants, who are presumed innocent until proven guilty, this case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of U.S. citizens to sophisticated international fraud schemes. The exploitation of fear and the theft of identities remain lucrative avenues for criminals, demanding relentless investigation and prosecution.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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