Nirav B. Patel, a 44-year-old illegal immigrant from India, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in a large-scale fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. The case, tried in East St. Louis, Illinois, resulted in Patel’s conviction on charges including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and illegal entry into the United States.
Prosecutors revealed that Patel took part in an imposter scam in which fraudsters posed as government officials to manipulate elderly individuals. Victims received messages warning them of security breaches on their Amazon accounts. Those who responded were connected to individuals impersonating federal agents, who claimed the victims were under investigation for identity theft. The victims were coerced into transferring large sums of money into what they believed were secure federal accounts. In reality, the funds were siphoned into fraudulent accounts controlled by an overseas network based in India.
Patel played a direct role in the operation, traveling to victims’ homes to collect cash and valuables. In one instance, he retrieved $177,000 in gold bars from a woman living in an assisted living facility, despite her reliance on oxygen support and limited mobility. Evidence presented during the trial showed that the fraud ring kept victims in constant fear, calling them repeatedly—sometimes for up to 12 hours a day—and threatening legal action if they disclosed the scam to friends or family.
Court documents confirmed that Patel entered the U.S. illegally near Vancouver and later relocated to Illinois, where he obtained a driver’s license despite his undocumented status. He used this identification to travel across state lines and further the scheme. The judge dismissed Patel’s defense that he was unaware of the scam’s true nature, citing the large sums of money entrusted to him and his active role in collections.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft criticized Patel’s exploitation of state ID laws and his targeting of vulnerable victims, stating that such actions pose a serious threat to public safety. ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Matthew Scarpino echoed these concerns, highlighting the public safety risks posed by individuals who enter the country illegally and then participate in organized criminal activity.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that imposter scams are now the most common form of consumer fraud in the United States. Victims or concerned family members are encouraged to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 for assistance.
The investigation was a joint effort by Homeland Security Investigations, the Edwardsville Police Department, Merrill Wisconsin Police Department, Lincoln County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, and Franklin Indiana Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter T. Reed and Steven Weinhoeft prosecuted the case.
