Hitesh Madhubhai Patel, Multimillion Dollar India-Based Call Center Scam, Texas 2022

Houston-based authorities have announced that an Indian national has been extradited to the United States from Singapore to face charges related to his role as an operator of a call center network that targeted U.S. victims.

The massive India-based telephone impersonation fraud and money laundering conspiracy defrauded thousands of U.S. residents out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Hitesh Madhubhai Patel, 42, of Ahmedabad, India, arrived in the United States and is scheduled to be arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 1:30 p.m. in Houston.

The indictment, which was unsealed in October 2016, charged Patel and 60 other individuals and entities with general conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.

The case is assigned to the Honorable David Hittner of the Southern District of Texas.

Patel is accused of operating a call center that allegedly preyed upon vulnerable U.S. citizens as part of a massive fraud scheme.

Since 2013, the IRS impersonation scam has been on a relentless path, claiming more than 15,000 victims who have collectively suffered over $75 million in losses.

Singapore authorities apprehended Patel at the request of the United States pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant on Sept. 21, 2018, after flying from India to Singapore.

Authorities claim that Patel and the call center network used various tactics to deceive U.S. residents, including posing as IRS agents and claiming that the victims owed back taxes.

The indictment alleges that Patel and the call center network laundered the stolen funds through various financial institutions and used the money to purchase real estate and other assets.

Houston U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick made the announcement along with Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Criminal Division, Executive Associate Director Derek N. Benner of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Inspector General J. Russell George of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and Acting Inspector General John Kelly of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Patrick said, 'I cannot compliment enough the hard work and effort put into this case by the agents, analysts, and attorneys of the many agencies involved.'

'Large complex international cases like these often take years to bring in foreign-based defendants. I applaud our global partners in helping bring this case closer to a conclusion.'

Patel is expected to face charges in U.S. District Court in Houston.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/indian-national-extradited-face-charges-leadership-role-multimillion-dollar-india-based