Ali M. Summers Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois
An Indian national residing illegally in the United States has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in a fraud scheme targeting elderly individuals across the Midwest. Nirav B. Patel, aged 44, was convicted by a federal jury on charges including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, and illegal entry into the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft commented on the case, stating: “This illegal alien admitted that he came to Illinois because the state would give him a driver’s license, and then he used that license to steal from the elderly all across the Midwest.” He further emphasized ongoing efforts to remove such criminal elements from the country.
The fraudulent operation involved scammers posing as government officials who manipulated victims into believing their Amazon accounts were compromised. Victims were convinced they needed to withdraw their savings for safekeeping in fictitious trust accounts. The funds were instead transferred to accounts controlled by scammers in India.
Patel played a crucial role by visiting victims' homes to collect cash and valuables. Testimony revealed an instance where Patel collected $177,000 worth of gold bars from an elderly woman at her assisted living facility.
Besides fraud charges, Patel faced conviction for unlawful entry into the U.S., having entered near Vancouver before joining other fraudsters in Georgia. Operating primarily out of Chicago, Patel exploited his Illinois driver's license to travel through Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana collecting money and assets from victims.
The court dismissed Patel's claims of ignorance regarding his actions, noting his handling of large sums indicated awareness of his role in the scam. The sentence aims to deter others from participating in similar schemes against vulnerable populations.
Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge at ICE Homeland Security Investigations Chicago remarked: “This case highlights the serious public safety risks posed by individuals who enter the United States illegally and exploit our systems." He reiterated HSI's commitment to dismantling transnational criminal operations targeting Americans.
The Federal Trade Commission identified imposter scams as prevalent consumer frauds against Americans as of March 2025. Victims are encouraged to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 for assistance.
Investigations were conducted by Homeland Security Investigations alongside local police departments from Edwardsville, Merrill Wisconsin, Lincoln County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, and Franklin Indiana Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter T. Reed and Steve Weinhoeft prosecuted this case.
