Timothy J. Racicot Acting United States Attorney for the District of Montana | Wikipedia
A man from India is facing charges in federal court for allegedly stealing nearly $1 million from an elderly victim in Missoula, Montana. Zabi Ullah Mohammed, 29, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on May 14, 2025. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and impersonating a federal agent.
If found guilty, Mohammed could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, fined $250,000, and placed under supervised release for at least three years. He was detained pending further legal proceedings.
The criminal complaint claims that Mohammed and others contacted the victim in April 2025 while pretending to be Amazon representatives. They questioned her about a purchase of computer equipment she did not make. The alleged scammers then claimed her identity had been stolen and transferred her call to individuals posing as members of the "Social Security Department" and the "U.S. Marshal." These impersonators told the victim that her bank account funds needed to be "legalized," prompting an agent to collect cash and gold from her home on several occasions.
Mohammed was apprehended when he returned to the victim's residence once more. Law enforcement officers searched his vehicle and discovered airline tickets, car rental documents, and approximately $68,987 in cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is handling the prosecution with investigative support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office.
It is important to note that a complaint is merely an accusation; Mohammed is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For those interested in tracking case developments, they can do so through the U.S. District Court Calendar or by setting up a PACER account for electronic access at http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. The District Court’s calendar can also be accessed at https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl
