A New Jersey man, Bharat Awasarmol, has entered a guilty plea in a sweeping multistate gold-theft scam, his attorney confirmed to Daily Voice on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Awasarmol and co-defendant Prakashkumar Prajapati were previously indicted in a multistate wire fraud conspiracy that began in March 2023, according to a superseding indictment filed on April 3. Prosecutors allege the duo and their associates posed as government officials to trick victims into handing over cash and gold.
Victims across Maine, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia reportedly received phone calls from scammers claiming to work for federal agencies. The callers allegedly instructed victims to withdraw funds and purchase gold for “government safekeeping,” arranging meetings where the fake agents collected the valuables.
Awasarmol was arrested in Maine after accepting a package from a victim who believed they were delivering gold to the Federal Trade Commission. Prosecutors claim he also collected cash and gold from six additional victims in four other states, following instructions from Prajapati, who coordinated the operations.
The guilty plea was confirmed Tuesday morning by Awasarmol’s attorney, Todd Spodek.
“Mr. Awasarmol has accepted responsibility for his actions. The facts will show he played a minor, low-level role and participated solely out of financial desperation to make ends meet,” Spodek said.
In addition to the wire fraud conspiracy charge, Awasarmol faces allegations of making false statements to an FBI agent during the investigation. No sentencing date has been scheduled.
Originally, both defendants faced up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the wire fraud conspiracy. Awasarmol also faced an additional five years and another $250,000 fine for the false statement charge.
The FBI continues to investigate the case.
