New York, June 20 (V7N) – The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that an Indian national residing in the United States on a student visa has been sentenced to over five years in prison for his role in a money laundering operation linked to online fraud. The sentence was handed down on Wednesday (local time), according to an official statement from the department.

Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, a 20-year-old from Navsari district in Gujarat, India, was sentenced to 63 months (five years and three months) in federal prison after being found guilty of laundering proceeds from scams that primarily targeted elderly U.S. citizens.

According to the Department of Justice, Patel assisted in the collection of large sums of cash and gold from victims between July and August 2024. The fraudulent scheme involved impersonating U.S. government officials and using phishing tactics to deceive elderly individuals into handing over their savings under false pretenses.

The DOJ further stated that Patel’s actions were part of a wider network of organized scams exploiting vulnerable populations through fear and misinformation. His role in physically collecting and laundering the stolen assets was deemed essential to the success of the operation.

Authorities have reiterated the growing threat posed by international fraud schemes and urged the public—particularly older citizens—to remain vigilant against unsolicited messages or calls from individuals claiming to represent government agencies.

Patel's conviction highlights the increasing use of student visa holders by transnational criminal networks and underscores the Department of Justice's commitment to prosecuting such crimes to the fullest extent of the law.

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