MONTICELLO, Ky. (FOX 56) — A couple from Dalton, Georgia, was arrested on Wednesday as part of an ongoing fraud investigation by the Monticello Police Department.
At approximately 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Amit Patel, 37, and Dishaben Patel, 28, were stopped by officers in a 2021 Honda van at the intersection of Castle and Elk Streets. This stop followed a series of fraudulent activities reported by a local woman.
According to court documents, on March 17, Monticello police were dispatched to 43 Highland Avenue after a woman reported being scammed. She explained that on March 12, her computer froze, and a message appeared instructing her to call a number. The woman contacted the number and spoke with a man and woman who claimed to be from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The scammers told her that her computer had been hacked and her personal information was compromised.
The victim was instructed to send money to recover her information. Over the next several days, she withdrew $52,000, $32,000, and was told to prepare a third payment of $50,000. The victim followed the scammers’ instructions, placing the cash in shoeboxes and leaving them outside her home for pickup. A vehicle, allegedly driven by a man, came to collect the shoeboxes on March 14, 17, and again on March 19.
On March 19, Monticello police conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which was driven by Amit and Dishaben Patel. They allegedly found the shoebox containing the stolen money inside the van.
Both Patel suspects were arrested and charged with:
Engaging in organized crime
Theft by deception (including cold checks of $10,000 or more) – conspiracy
Knowingly exploiting an adult out of more than $300
Amit and Dishaben Patel were taken to the Wayne County Detention Center. The investigation into the scam is still ongoing.
