A federal judge sentenced Ligneshkumar H. Patel, a 38-year-old Indian national, to 90 months in prison on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, for his role in an imposter scheme that defrauded 11 identified victims, including elderly residents in Edwardsville and St. Louis. Patel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, financial institution fraud, and two counts of wire fraud and was ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Edwardsville Police Department carried out the investigation. Peter Reed, Assistant United States Attorney, prosecuted the case.
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According to court documents, Patel acted as a courier, going to the homes of elderly victims in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin to collect money and gold worth $2,231,216.99. The scheme was part of a bigger conspiracy that affected at least 85 additional victims and resulted in targeted losses of $6.9 million.
Imposter scams, according to US Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft, are “international conspiracies often using US-based money mules to meet victims in person to take their money.” He stressed that “the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes these fraudsters aggressively, and anyone who targets elderly victims will face certain justice.”
Imposter scams usually include scammers impersonating law enforcement or federal officials to trick victims into handing over money, access to financial accounts, or personal information. In this instance, Patel’s co-conspirators persuaded victims that they needed to surrender their valuables for safety.
Special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago, Matthew J. Scarpino, stated that the case “highlights the serious consequences for individuals who prey on the elderly through sophisticated fraud schemes.” He indicated that HSI “remains dedicated to protecting our communities from financial crimes and ensuring that those responsible are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
