Latest news with #PranavPatel
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Villages in Gujarat witness return of illegal immigrants from the US
Ahmedabad: Several villages in north Gujarat are witnessing a quiet but steady influx of elderly couples and single adults who once left Indian shores for the United States, many of them as illegal immigrants. Now, they are self-deporting to avoid detention as the Trump administration enforces stricter immigration laws. Dingucha, Jhulasan, Jetalpur, Nardipur, and other villages have observed a noticeable rise in population over the past few months, with many such returnees. Local officials and sources estimate the number of self-deportees to be at least 220. Many of them were recently issued Aadhaar cards and have settled back in villages across Mehsana and Gandhinagar districts, long identified by state and central agencies as hubs for illegal immigration. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Pranav Patel, a visa consultant in Kalol, told TOI that many undocumented migrants in the US fear being detained. "They no longer have the option of shelter or asylum and want to avoid legal trouble. That's why they are leaving voluntarily," he said. A recent case involves a 65-year-old Mehsana resident. He entered the US illegally in 2009 and returned to Gujarat via Delhi on July 7. On arrival, he was booked for allegedly cheating the Indian immigration system. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Have No Words For Dog The Bounty Hunter's Transformation Cash Roadster Undo by Taboola by Taboola His decision to leave the US was prompted by the renewed crackdown on undocumented immigrants by the Trump administration, a police official familiar with the case said. "In the last three to four months, Dingucha has seen around 100 new residents, many seeking local documents," said Hasmukh Parmar, the village talati. Residents note the change. "Earlier, the village was sparsely populated, with many people in the US. Now, temple courtyards and benches in gathering spots are full again. Those who have returned stand out — they are fairer, healthier, and well-dressed," said Bhavin Patel, a Pansar resident. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Time of India
Mehsana man gets six yrs in US jail for $1.79m fraud
Ahmedabad: A Gujarati illegal immigrant living in New Jersey, has been sentenced by a US court to six years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Pranav Patel, 33, from Mehsana, pleaded guilty to the charge on Dec 23, 2024. While pronouncing the sentence, US District Judge William F Jung also ordered the forfeiture of $1,791,301, which was identified as proceeds of the offence. According to court records, Patel was part of a fraud scheme targeting elderly citizens in the US between Oct and Dec 2023. Conspirators, operating from call centres outside the country, posed as officials from govt agencies, including the US Department of the Treasury. They falsely claimed that the victims had pending warrants or legal issues and pressured them to hand over cash and valuables. Case details state that Patel acted as a money mule for the operation, travelling from New Jersey to various locations across the East Coast, including Florida, to collect money and gold from the victims. One victim told the court during sentencing that the scam forced him to sell his home and rely solely on social security for daily expenses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Step-by-Step Warehouse Cleaning Guide SearchMore Learn More Undo In Dec 2023, Patel travelled to a residence in Hillsborough County to collect what he believed was a box of gold. The operation was monitored by law enforcement and Patel was arrested shortly after picking up the box. In total, Patel was involved in laundering over $1.79 million. The investigation was carried out by the US Secret Service along with Pasco and Hillsborough County Sheriff's offices. The case was prosecuted by assistant US attorneys Jennifer L Peresie and Maria Guzman.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Time of India
Illegal immigrant from Gujarat jailed in US for $1.79 million elderly fraud scam
Representative AI image AHMEDABAD: A Gujarati illegal immigrant from New Jersey, Pranav Patel , 33, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence was pronounced by US District Judge William F. Jung. Patel pleaded guilty to the charge on December 23, 2024. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $1,791,301, which was identified as the proceeds of the offence. According to court records, Patel was part of a fraud scheme targeting elderly citizens in the United States between October and December 2023. Conspirators, operating from call centres outside the country, posed as officials from govt agencies, including the US Department of the Treasury. They falsely claimed that the victims had pending warrants or legal issues and pressured them to hand over cash and valuables. Patel acted as a money mule for the operation. He travelled from New Jersey to various locations across the east coast, including Florida, to collect money and gold from the victims. One victim told the court during sentencing that the scam forced him to sell his home and rely solely on Social Security for daily expenses. In December 2023, Patel travelled to a residence in Hillsborough County to collect what he believed was a box of gold. The operation was monitored by law enforcement. Patel was arrested shortly after picking up the box, which was part of a controlled law enforcement operation. In total, Patel was involved in laundering over $1.79 million. The scheme caused significant financial harm to the victims. The investigation was carried out by the US Secret Service along with the Pasco and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Offices. The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Jennifer L. Peresie and Maria Guzman. Officials said the case highlights the efforts to stop financial fraud schemes that target vulnerable citizens across the country. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
News18
12-06-2025
- News18
Indian-Origin Man Sentenced In $2 Million Call Centre Fraud Targeting US Seniors
Last Updated: Patel was convicted of money laundering after admitting to collecting over $1.79 million from victims in Florida and other eastern US states Pranav Patel, a 33-year-old man of Indian origin, has been sentenced to 75 months (over six years) in prison for his involvement in a fraudulent call centre scheme that defrauded elderly citizens across the United States of nearly $2 million. The sentencing took place on June 11 in Tampa, Florida, with Federal Judge William F Jung presiding over the case. Patel was busted when he went to a house to collect what he thought was a box of gold. Law enforcement officials, who had him under surveillance, arrested him immediately after he picked up the package. Patel was convicted of money laundering after admitting to collecting over $1.79 million from victims in Florida and other eastern US states. The funds were obtained through deceptive tactics, including impersonating US Treasury officials and threatening victims with arrest unless they paid large sums of money or handed over valuables such as gold. In his role as a 'money mule", Patel travelled across state lines to collect the illicit proceeds, which were then laundered through various channels. The operation primarily targeted senior citizens, exploiting their trust and financial vulnerability. One victim reported losing his home due to the financial strain caused by the scam. Following his conviction, Patel was ordered to forfeit the $1.79 million he had collected from the victims. The case highlights the growing concern over scams targeting the elderly and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable populations from financial exploitation. Authorities have emphasised the need for increased vigilance and protective measures to prevent such fraudulent activities. 'Preying on vulnerable, unsuspecting elderly victims to rob them of their hard-earned money is despicable," Secret Service Special Agent Robert Engel said after the sentencing, adding: 'Even worse, the defendant's co-conspirators posed as government agents to defraud victims of nearly $2 million, threatening them with arrest if they didn't follow their demands." First Published: June 12, 2025, 12:33 IST
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- The Hindu
Indian-origin man sentenced in U.S. for fraud scheme targeting elderly
An Indian-origin man has been sentenced to over six years in prison in San Francisco, U.S., for his involvement in a fraud scheme in which he laundered over a million dollars targeting senior citizens, according to the Justice Department. Pranav Patel, 33, of New Jersey, served as a "money mule' in the fraud scheme between October and December 2023 and laundered $1.7 million as part of it. He pleaded guilty in December last year and was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge William Jung to six years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The court also ordered the seizure of $1.7 million, the Justice Department said. Conspirators involved in the scheme called from call centres abroad and fraudulently identified themselves as government agents such as officers from the U.S. Treasury Department. In some instances, they told victims that there were outstanding warrants for their arrest and they needed to pay to clear the warrants. On other occasions, the conspirators told victims that they needed to provide their money and gold to the officers for safekeeping. Patel drove from New Jersey to pick up money and gold from senior citizens in Florida and elsewhere along the U.S. East Coast. During the sentencing hearing, one victim from whom Patel picked up fraud proceeds informed the court that because of the scam, he was unable to afford his mortgage payments, had to sell his house and depended on Social Security benefits for all his living expenses. In December 2023, Patel travelled to a residence to retrieve what he believed was a box of gold. However, he was unaware that he was doing so while under law enforcement surveillance, and was promptly arrested after picking up the box.
