The final defendant in a transnational money laundering conspiracy that targeted victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana has been sentenced to prison. Kishan Vinayak Patel, 26, an Indian national, received a sentence of 46 months after being convicted by a federal jury for his role in the scheme. Another defendant, Pranay Kumar Mamidi, 27, also from India, was previously sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of money laundering conspiracy. Both Patel and Mamidi were ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution with other defendants.
Six additional Indian nationals pleaded guilty to money laundering charges and received sentences ranging from two to six years: Dileep Kumar Sakineni (six years), Balaji Rakesh Mulpuri (2.25 years), Avi Jitendrakumar Patel (2.75 years), Sai Hruthik Thodeti (two years), Srinivas Ravi Valluru (five years), and Hiren Jagdishbhai Patel of Columbus, Ohio (3.25 years).
“These individuals stopped at nothing to purposely confuse their victims and used scare tactics to bully and coerce them into unknowingly handing over their life savings. This coordinated effort to steal from hardworking Americans is over,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “To those who take advantage of others—and then launder their money on behalf of transnational criminal organizations—know that your callous actions will have consequences. We thank our partners with FBI Cleveland who conducted the investigation as their role was vital in bringing these individuals to justice.”
“Targeting victims and knowingly siphoning their life savings is reprehensible,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “The FBI is focused on defending the homeland and protecting the American public from conniving criminals, such as Kishan Patel and his associates, who preyed on their victims through coercion and scare tactics. The FBI will continue to aggressively identify and investigate those who engage in money laundering schemes, whether domestically or globally, with an intent to harm Americans.”
According to court documents, between May and November 2023 the group laundered proceeds from a fraud known as a “phantom hacker” scam. In this type of scam, fraudsters convince victims—often elderly—that their accounts have been compromised or are under investigation by law enforcement agencies like the DEA or FTC. Victims are manipulated into transferring funds or converting savings into cash or gold bars under false pretenses that it would be kept safe.
A common method involved contacting elderly people about supposed suspicious activity on their Amazon account before escalating threats involving fake government agents claiming investigations for drug offenses or child pornography production. Victims were pressured into withdrawing funds which they handed over at specified locations; afterward they received counterfeit receipts appearing official.
Investigators determined that the defendants acted as part of a U.S.-based infrastructure supporting global operations based out of India that distributed illegally obtained funds worldwide.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland Division and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Melching and Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio.
This prosecution aligns with efforts under the Elder Justice Initiative Program connected to the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The initiative aims to coordinate Department of Justice enforcement against elder abuse—including financial scams targeting older adults.
Individuals suspecting elder fraud are encouraged to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or visit IC3.gov for reporting.
