BAXTER COUNTY, Ark. – A multi-agency law enforcement operation in Baxter County led to the arrest of three men involved in an elaborate scam targeting elderly victims. The suspects posed as federal agents and tricked vulnerable residents into handing over large sums of money.
The investigation was triggered by the earlier arrest of a Chinese national on a theft charge, prompting federal, state, and local agencies to launch a coordinated operation to crack down on scam-related activity.
“Scammers have been very active in this area, preying on vulnerable members of the community,” said Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery. “Several area residents have sustained considerable monetary losses as a result of these scams. Most of these scams are directed at the elderly.”
According to the sheriff’s office, the scammers impersonated federal agents and coerced victims into giving up their savings. The cash was typically collected in person by so-called “money mules.”
On August 14, Pruthviraj Butiya, an Indian national, was arrested after arriving at a home where undercover officers posed as an elderly disabled victim. Butiya, claiming to be an officer with the Federal Trade Commission, attempted to collect $60,000 in cash. He briefly fled in a vehicle but was captured and charged with theft of property and fleeing. He is being held for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The next day, Osazuwa Ikponmwosa was arrested under similar circumstances. He also posed as an FTC agent and PayPal representative to collect a fake $60,000 payment. He faces theft charges.
His accomplice, Pranav Sharma, also of India, fled the scene in a vehicle. A police helicopter later spotted the abandoned car in a field, and officers found Sharma hiding nearby. He was arrested and charged with theft of property, fleeing, and reckless driving. He is also on hold for DHS.
All three suspects are currently held at the Baxter County Detention Center.
The operation involved the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Home Police Department, Arkansas State Police, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Arkansas Division of Corrections, and the Baxter County Prosecutor’s Office.
