HOUSTON, TX – A brazen scheme to fleece American citizens out of millions ended with a lengthy prison sentence. Hitesh Madhubhai Patel, 44, of Ahmedabad, India, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars on November 30, 2020, in the Southern District of Texas for his central role in a sprawling India-based call center fraud operation. Patel, also known as Hitesh Hinglaj, will also serve three years of supervised release after completing his sentence.
The con, active between 2013 and 2016, preyed on the fears of vulnerable Americans. Patel and his co-conspirators ran call centers where employees impersonated officials from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They used intimidation tactics, falsely claiming victims owed back taxes or faced deportation, to coerce them into sending money. The operation was a sophisticated web of wire fraud, identification fraud, access device fraud, money laundering, and the impersonation of federal officers.
“The defendant defrauded vulnerable U.S. victims out of tens of millions of dollars by spearheading a conspiracy whose members boldly impersonated federal government officials and preyed on victims’ fears of adverse government action,” stated Acting Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. The sentence, Rabbitt emphasized, demonstrates a commitment to pursuing even those fraudsters operating from outside U.S. borders. Judge David Hittner also ordered Patel to pay restitution totaling $8,970,396 to the identified victims of his crimes.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas didn’t mince words. “Transnational call center scams are complex cases to investigate and prosecute but our agencies are up to the task,” Patrick said. “Many of these fraudsters prey on the most vulnerable from the perceived safety of foreign lands so there is no sorry in seeing him head to prison. His access to a phone is now greatly diminished.” The investigation required international cooperation, highlighting the reach of federal law enforcement.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Mark B. Dawson called the case a “first ever large-scale, multi-jurisdictional investigation and prosecution targeting the India call center scam industry.” He noted the successful collaboration with global law enforcement partners, aiming to deter similar scams in the future. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) J. Russell George confirmed that American taxpayers had been targeted “with unprecedented attempts to fraudulently obtain money” through these schemes.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) echoed the sentiment. Special Agent in Charge David Green stated the sentence sends “a clear deterrent” to those who would exploit vulnerable individuals. According to court documents, Patel’s plea agreement detailed a complex scheme that relied on deceiving U.S. institutions and taxpayers. The investigation and prosecution serve as a warning: even when operating from overseas, those who prey on Americans will be held accountable.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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