A New Jersey man, Pranav Patel, 33, has been sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison for his role in a widespread conspiracy to commit money laundering, targeting vulnerable senior citizens.
U.S. District Judge William F. Jung handed down the sentence Wednesday, which also includes an order of forfeiture totaling $1,791,301, representing the illicit proceeds of the scheme. Patel pleaded guilty on December 23, 2024.
According to court documents, between October and December 2023, Patel served as a “money mule” in a sophisticated fraud operation originating from call centers abroad. Conspirators impersonated government agents, including U.S. Department of the Treasury officials, to defraud victims. They often threatened victims with arrest for fictitious warrants or coerced them into handing over money and gold for “safekeeping.”…