Illegal Immigrant from India Convicted in Fraud Conspiracy

A southern Illinois jury convicted an illegal immigrant from India for his involvement in an imposter scam, in which victims across the Midwest were defrauded out of more than $400,000. 

The jury convicted Nirav B. Patel, 44, an Indian citizen, of one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of illegal entry into the U.S. by an alien.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working aggressively to prosecute illegal immigrants who break ours laws and exploit elderly victims,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “An imposter scammer may call, text, or email to convince you they are someone in authority, but government agencies typically initiate conversation with you through the mail. Unexpected contact or demands through any other method are more than likely a scam.”

Patel was convicted of acting on behalf of an imposter scam, in which the fraudsters pose as government officials to manipulate and exploit elderly victims for money. Patel traveled to the victims’ residences to pick up cash and assets to support the conspiracy.

The scheme targeted elderly victims with text messages and emails purportedly warning that their Amazon accounts had been compromised. When the victims followed up on the messages, they were redirected to coconspirators posing as federal agents who convinced the victims that they were victims of identity theft who needed to withdraw their life savings to be held in phony U.S. Treasury or FTC trust accounts for safekeeping. In reality, the money was stolen and ultimately transferred to accounts controlled by the scammers in India.

In addition to the fraud charges, Patel was also convicted for entering the U.S. illegally. Evidence showed that Patel snuck into the U.S. near Vancouver and moved throughout Washington, Tennessee, Georgia, New Jersey and elsewhere. Patel took the witness stand and testified that he moved to the Chicago suburbs, because he was able to acquire an Illinois driver’s license despite being in the U.S. unlawfully. Soon after, he began driving on behalf of the fraud scheme.

“This conviction represents a significant victory in our fight against fraud schemes that target vulnerable elderly victims,” said HSI Chicago acting Special Agent in Charge Daniel Johnsen. “Patel’s reprehensible actions, along with his illegal presence in our country, underscore the critical importance of our efforts to protect our communities and bring such criminals to justice. We remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling fraud conspiracies and ensuring that those who exploit others are held accountable for their crimes.”

Patel was arrested in Edwardsville in April 2023 when he attempted to pick up $35,000 in cash from a retiree. In total, Patel personally made six trips picking up, or attempting to pick up, $403,400 from elderly victims in Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Patel could face up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 for conspiracy and each of the wire fraud counts. His sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on May 29 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Edwardsville Police Department, the Merrill Wisconsin Police Department, the Lincoln County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, and the Franklin Indiana Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter T. Reed and Steve Weinhoeft are prosecuting the case.