Austin, Texas, USA: A 21-year-old Indian student in the United States, Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison and ordered to repay $2,515,780 after admitting to involvement in a large-scale money-laundering conspiracy that targeted elderly victims. The scheme involved manipulating senior citizens into handing over gold, cash, and other valuables through a sophisticated phone-based fraud operation carried out with an accomplice in India.
His co-accused, Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, received a 63-month prison sentence earlier in June after also pleading guilty.
According to federal investigators, Mangukiya and Patel selected elderly individuals and called them while impersonating government representatives. They convinced the victims that they were under investigation or at risk of losing money unless they submitted “deposits” of cash, gold, or other valuables. Couriers were then sent to collect these items from the victims’ homes or nearby business parking lots.
In another instance, the pair contacted an elderly woman while pretending to be employees of Amazon’s fraud department. They falsely claimed that her Social Security number had been stolen and used to open fraudulent bank accounts linked to money laundering. The woman was instructed to pay $30,000 to supposedly clear her name.
Patel’s arrest led authorities to messages exchanged between him, Mangukiya, and two additional co-conspirators referred to as “Hunter” and “Master.” Mangukiya was later taken into custody at his residence in New Jersey on December 5, 2024. During a search, agents discovered a printer used to create fake IDs and $73,422.96 in cash. He admitted he received a 2% commission from the fraudulent proceeds and had recruited Patel to act as a courier.
