Gujarati man arrested after US cops' sting op foils $335,000 gold pickup

AHMEDABAD: A Gujarati man has been charged in a fraud and money laundering case in the US after authorities busted a scheme targeting a Texas resident. The Llano County sheriff's office said the accused, Dhyey Rakeshkumar Patel, was arrested on April 8 following a coordinated operation with the Texas attorney general's office.According to officials, the case came to light after a resident of Llano County was duped by individuals posing as federal agents. The victim was persuaded to transfer around $25,000 in cryptocurrency as part of the fraud. Investigators said the suspects later attempted to escalate the scam by directing the victim to purchase gold worth approximately $335,000, which was to be collected from his residence.Acting on inputs and surveillance, officers intercepted Patel before the planned pickup could take place. He was taken into custody without incident and later lodged in the Llano County Jail.Authorities said preliminary findings suggest Patel may have been involved in similar transactions in the past, indicating a broader network or repeated pattern of fraud. However, officials have not disclosed details of other potential victims or accomplices at this stage.Patel has been booked on multiple charges, including money laundering of $300,000 or more, classified as a second-degree felony, and money laundering between $2,500 and $30,000, a state jail felony under Texas law.Law enforcement agencies have cautioned the public about the increasing trend of scammers impersonating govt officials. Such fraudsters often demand payments through cryptocurrency, gift cards or high-value assets like gold, making recovery difficult.Officials advised citizens to verify any suspicious claims, especially those involving urgent financial transactions, and to immediately report such incidents to authorities.The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected as officials examine possible links to similar fraud operations.