Two More Members of International Fraud Ring Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Americans

Two members of an international fraud ring that targeted elderly Americans were sentenced to federal prison on August 16, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Western Michigan. Jayesh J. Panchal, 55, of Hicksville, New York, and Vijaya C. Shetty, 53, of Flushing, New York, were part of a seven-person scheme that stole over $11 million from 50 victims. The fraudulent operation, based in India, exploited elderly individuals across several U.S. states.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten emphasized the severity of the scheme, describing it as a calculated attack on some of society’s most vulnerable people. “These fraudsters preyed on elderly victims, many of whom lost their life savings,” Totten said. “We teamed up with multiple law enforcement partners to bring them to justice, and we’ll continue to pursue criminals who target seniors.”

Panchal, who pled guilty earlier this year, received a sentence of 78 months in prison and was ordered to pay nearly $8 million in restitution. Shetty, who also pled guilty, was sentenced to 63 months and must pay nearly $600,000 in restitution. U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering, who presided over the case, called the fraud “horrific” and condemned the criminals for taking advantage of elderly victims. “These individuals worked hard and saved their whole lives, only to have everything stolen,” Beckering stated.

The fraud ring used various methods to convince elderly victims that their computers were infected or that their bank accounts had been hacked. Posing as representatives of tech companies like Microsoft or Apple, scammers frightened victims into sending large sums of money for supposed “repairs” or “protection.” One victim in Michigan lost $398,000 to the ring, which collected money through wire transfers, cash deliveries, and even gift cards.

Earlier Sentencings and Ongoing Investigations

The sentencing of Panchal and Shetty follows earlier convictions of other ring members. In May, Jmyla Elaine Sha’Taria White, 29, of Thonotosassa, Florida, and McKhaela Katelynn McNamara, 28, of Flint, Michigan, were sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy. White received 97 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay over $3.2 million in restitution. McNamara was sentenced to 51 months and must pay nearly $700,000.

Judge Beckering described the case as one of the most “reprehensible” fraud schemes she had ever seen. “This wasn’t just theft; it was a theft of dignity and security,” she said. “These elderly victims worked hard their entire lives, and now they have nothing left.”

Another member, Jorrel Tyler Jackson, 31, of Seffner, Florida, was sentenced in April to 6.5 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $1.6 million to 22 victims. FBI Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson warned that fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated. “They are targeting elderly victims in ways that are harder to detect, making it crucial to report suspicious activity to the FBI,” he said.

One Member Still Awaiting Sentencing, Ringleader’s Trial Pending

Another member of the fraud ring, Everette Thibou, 30, of Tampa, Florida, who pled guilty in July, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 31. Thibou was arrested in June 2020 after attempting to retrieve a package of cash sent by an elderly victim in Pennsylvania. The victim, a 90-year-old woman from California, had been scammed into sending nearly $54,000 to the fraudsters, believing the funds were for computer repairs.

The trial of the alleged ringleader, Pragneshbhai Patel, 51, of Amityville, New York, is still pending. Patel, known as “Master” within the fraud ring, is believed to be the mastermind behind the $11 million scheme. Court documents show that the indictment calls for the forfeiture of assets tied to the fraudulent activities, including nearly $11.5 million in proceeds and additional cash seized from various members between March 2022 and July 2023.

Common Scam Methods

According to prosecutors, the fraud ring primarily targeted elderly individuals with common scam tactics. One involved a pop-up message on the victim’s computer, claiming it was infected with a virus. The scammers would provide a phone number, and when victims called, they were connected to individuals posing as tech support. The fraudsters would then convince the victims to send money for fake repairs or to “protect” their bank accounts from hackers.

In other cases, victims were told they were part of a criminal investigation and needed to pay money to clear their names. Often, the elderly individuals were instructed to withdraw large sums of cash and send it to addresses provided by the fraudsters or purchase gift cards for the same purpose.

Totten stressed the importance of raising awareness about elder fraud. He said, “Protecting our older loved ones from these kinds of crimes is critical. These criminals are becoming more organized, but we are committed to bringing them to justice.”