An Illinois man has been sentenced to 7 1/2 years in federal prison for his role in a nationwide imposter scam that stole $6.9 million from nearly 100 victims, many of them elderly.
Ligneshkumar H. Patel, 38, of Des Plaines, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, financial institution fraud, and two counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Stephen P. McGlynn also ordered Patel to pay $2.23 million in restitution during the sentencing Tuesday in federal court in East St. Louis.
Federal prosecutors say Patel operated as a money mule, collecting cash and gold from at least 11 victims across five Midwestern states. These victims alone lost more than $2.3 million, while the broader conspiracy—based in India—defrauded 85 additional victims, bringing losses to $6.9 million.
“This is another India-based impostor scam case,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed wrote, noting Patel worked with associates in the U.S. and India to target elderly victims. Patel reportedly drove to victims’ homes to retrieve their money and valuables on behalf of the scheme.
Edwardsville Retiree Lost Nearly $249,000
One of the victims, a woman in her 70s from Edwardsville, contacted police in April 2024 after realizing she had been defrauded of $249,000. Her ordeal began with an email claiming to be from PayPal, alerting her to unauthorized transactions.
When she called the number provided, she was connected to someone claiming to be “Alex Martin” from the National Security Agency. The scammer said her identity and bank accounts were compromised and instructed her to turn over control of her assets.
The victim:
Sent $89,250 through bitcoin ATMs
Purchased $148,750 in gold coins
Was told to keep the investigation “confidential” or risk criminal charges
When the gold was picked up at her home, investigators discovered Patel’s phone had searched for her address and traveled from Chicago to Edwardsville on the day of the pickup.
More Victims and More Charges
Patel faces additional criminal charges in:
Madison County, Illinois
St. Louis County, Missouri
Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
Judge McGlynn ordered his federal sentence to run concurrently with any future state sentences.
One victim, a Michigan woman in her 70s who lost $320,000, described the emotional toll in court records:
“I suffered the first anxiety attack of my life… I have little hope left, no plans for the future.”
Federal Authorities Issue Warning
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said these international scams often rely on U.S.-based collectors like Patel to pick up assets directly from victims.
“Anyone who targets elderly victims will face certain justice,” he said.
