MISSOULA, Mont. — A New Jersey man originally from India appeared in a federal courtroom in Missoula on Tuesday, facing serious charges for allegedly defrauding a local elderly resident of nearly $1 million in cash and gold.
29-year-old Zabi Ullah Mohammed is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and impersonating a federal agent. He pleaded not guilty during his initial court appearance.
Federal officials allege that Mohammed and his accomplices orchestrated a sophisticated scam targeting an elderly Missoula woman. They reportedly posed as Amazon representatives, falsely claiming the victim’s identity had been compromised.
The deception escalated when a fake agent—later identified as Mohammed—visited the victim’s home multiple times, collecting large sums of cash and gold under the guise of helping recover her identity.
Authorities caught Mohammed during his final visit to the victim’s home. Upon searching his vehicle, they found airline tickets, a car rental agreement, and a duffel bag containing $68,987 in cash.
Severe Penalties Ahead
If convicted, Mohammed faces up to 40 years in federal prison.
Court documents state that the communications with the victim included “material misstatements,” which misled her into surrendering her money.
The case highlights a growing trend of fraud targeting elderly Americans using fake identities and federal impersonation, often involving high-value assets like gold and large cash withdrawals.
