A federal court in Austin has sentenced Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, 20, an Indian national living in the U.S. on a student visa, to 63 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, from July to August 2024, Patel, of Navsari, Gujarat, conspired with co-defendant Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya and others to defraud elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold. The sophisticated scheme involved various online phishing methods and the impersonation of U.S. government officials. Patel fraudulently received the cash and gold from victims, conveying a portion to his co-conspirators while keeping a percentage for himself. To date, the investigation has identified at least 25 victims, with a total intended loss of at least $2,694,156.
Patel's arrest occurred on August 24, 2024, when the Granite Shoals Police Department apprehended him after he retrieved a box purported to contain $130,000 from a victim's residence. He was transferred into federal custody on August 29, 2024, and pleaded guilty on March 18, 2025. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman handed down Patel's sentence.
“This defendant took advantage of his visa status in our country and participated in an international fraud scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Patel defrauded vulnerable American citizens out of millions of dollars by impersonating government officials and preying on his victims' fears of adverse government action. Today’s sentence demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting the perpetrators of such nefarious schemes and achieving justice for the victims.”
Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office added, “The FBI is deeply committed to protecting the American people from the devastating effects of financial fraud. We prioritize and aggressively pursue those who prey on our elderly population.”
Co-defendant Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya pleaded guilty on June 16, 2025, and is currently awaiting his sentencing hearing.
The FBI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke.
