by Jake Grissom
TAMPA, Fla. — A Sanford man was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for his role in a sophisticated scam targeting senior citizens across the country. Viraj Patel, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, after acting as a “money mule” for an international group of scammers.
The scammers, operating primarily from India, would contact elderly victims in the U.S., claiming their identities had been compromised. They demanded payment in various forms, instructing victims to withdraw large sums of money or purchase gold bars to resolve the alleged issues. Patel’s role was to collect the funds and deliver them to his co-conspirators.
In one instance, Patel and his associates tricked a senior citizen in Pinellas County into handing over $71,000 worth of gold bars and $50,000 in cash. Patel was arrested while in possession of the $50,000.
Robert Engel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Tampa Field Office, condemned Patel’s actions: “Patel and his co-conspirators preyed on law-abiding citizens by pretending to be government officials. This sentence should serve as a warning that fraudsters will be caught and prosecuted.”
Patel’s sentencing sends a powerful message about the consequences of exploiting vulnerable populations for financial gain. The U.S. Secret Service continues its commitment to investigating fraud cases and holding perpetrators accountable.