With India-West Staff Reporter

AUSTIN, TX – An Indian student from Gujarat has been sentenced to over five years in a U.S. federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that defrauded elderly Americans out of nearly $2.7 million using impersonation and online scams.

Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, 20, originally from Navsari, Gujarat, was in the United States on a student visa when he became part of an international scheme that targeted vulnerable senior citizens. Acting alongside co-conspirator Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya and others, Patel helped launder money obtained by impersonating U.S. government officials and scaring victims into handing over large amounts of cash and gold.

According to court records, Patel personally collected fraudulent payments from victims and passed them along to others in the scheme, keeping a share for himself. In total, at least 25 victims were identified between July and August 2024, with losses topping $2.6 million.

Patel was arrested on August 24, 2024, in Granite Shoals, Texas, after collecting what he believed was $130,000 from a victim. He was taken into federal custody days later and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in March. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman sentenced him to 63 months in prison.

U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons called Patel’s actions a “betrayal of the visa privilege.”

“This defendant took advantage of his visa status in our country and participated in an international fraud scheme,” Simmons said in a statement. “He exploited the trust of elderly Americans and manipulated them through fear and deception. Today’s sentence reflects our resolve to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable—no matter where they’re from.”

FBI officials also emphasized the growing threat of financial scams targeting the elderly, with Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp noting that such crimes are aggressively pursued.

“We prioritize and aggressively pursue those who prey on our elderly population,” Tapp said. “This case is a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of justice—regardless of nationality or visa status.”

Mangukiya, Patel’s co-defendant, has already pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.