Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
A man from India living in San Antonio, Texas, on a student visa has been indicted for allegedly defrauding an elderly resident of Delaware County, Oklahoma. Venkateswara Chagamreddy, 27, faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to demand money and property while falsely impersonating a federal officer, and conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion.
According to court documents, the case began when the elderly victim called what he believed was Microsoft support. The person who answered claimed that criminal activity had been detected on the victim’s computer and threatened to report it to federal authorities. The victim was then contacted by someone posing as a federal officer with a fake badge number. This individual told the victim his identity had been stolen and used for federal crimes.
The impersonator discussed the victim’s finances and said he would be transferred to the “treasury department.” The victim was instructed to convert his money into gold so that an “officer” could collect it. The victim complied and provided photos of the gold before handing over a package containing it when the fake officer arrived.
Days later, another demand for funds was made by the same impostor. At this point, a family member intervened and recognized it as a scam. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office was contacted, and deputies arranged another pickup with cooperation from the victim.
When Chagamreddy arrived at the location under surveillance by deputies, he was reportedly on the phone with the elderly victim at that time. Deputies arrested him at the scene. A search of his vehicle revealed gold and marijuana among other items. After waiving his right to have an attorney present during questioning, Chagamreddy stated he was in the United States on a student visa but faced possible deportation after being suspended from school. He claimed he had recently traveled out of state to enroll in another college and found gold in his vehicle upon returning.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting.
“An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
