WEST BEND, Wis. — Gursher Singh, a 25-year-old Indian national seeking asylum in the United States, was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for his role in a scam that defrauded an 86-year-old woman from Richfield.
Singh pleaded guilty in Washington County Circuit Court to money laundering (receiving proceeds over $10,000) and computer crime (data modification with intent to defraud). Judge Sandra Giernoth also imposed three years of extended supervision. Two other felony charges—theft by false representation and identity misappropriation—were dismissed but read into the record.
According to the criminal complaint, the elderly victim received a fraudulent email on April 8 claiming to be from the Geek Squad, stating she would be charged $335.99 for a subscription. When she clicked the link to cancel, it triggered a false “refund” transfer of $33,000 between her bank accounts.
The victim was then instructed to withdraw $26,500 in cash to “return” the money, either by handing it over to a courier or converting it into Bitcoin. Detectives intervened and organized a sting operation, during which Singh arrived at the woman’s home to collect the cash. Officers arrested him in her driveway.
During questioning, Singh told investigators he worked for a relative named Sandeep Singh in Punjab, India, and was paid $3,000 to assist in collecting cash from elderly victims. He had been flown from San Francisco to Chicago before traveling to Wisconsin to carry out the scam over a 10-day period.
Singh pleaded guilty to the charges on October 14, admitting his role in the laundering operation. He remains in U.S. custody following sentencing.
