Nirav B. Patel, Wire Fraud, Illinois 2023

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.

A southern Illinois jury convicted Nirav B. Patel, 44, an Indian citizen, for his involvement in an imposter scam targeting the life savings of elderly victims across the Midwest, with over $400,000 defrauded.

The jury found Nirav B. Patel guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of illegal entry into the U.S. by an alien.

U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe emphasized the need for vigilance, stating, 'An imposter scammer may call, text, or email to convince you they are someone in authority, but government agencies typically initiate conversation with you through the mail. Unexpected contact or demands through any other method are more than likely a scam.'

Patel acted on behalf of an imposter scam, in which the fraudsters pose as government officials to manipulate and exploit elderly victims for money. Patel traveled to the victims' residences to pick up cash and assets to support the conspiracy.

The scheme targeted elderly victims with text messages and emails purportedly warning that their Amazon accounts had been compromised. When the victims followed up on the messages, they were redirected to coconspirators posing as federal agents who convinced the victims that they were victims of identity theft who needed to withdraw their life savings to be held in phony U.S. Treasury or FTC trust accounts for safekeeping.

In total, Patel personally made six trips picking up or attempting to pick up $403,400 from elderly victims in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Patel's sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on May 29 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.

Nirav B. Patel, 44, an Indian citizen, faces up to 20 years' imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 for conspiracy and each of the wire fraud counts.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdil/pr/illegal-immigrant-convicted-part-india-based-fraud-conspiracy-scheme-targeting-life