Indian national in US on visitor visa jailed for $3.7 million fraud scheme targeting elders

A 22-year-old Indian national, Roshan Shah, has been sentenced to four years in prison in the United States for his involvement in a large-scale fraud scheme that targeted elderly Americans. Shah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Prosecutors stated that Shah, an Indian citizen studying in Canada on a student visa, entered the U.S. on a visitor visa specifically to collect funds obtained through impersonation scams. His co-conspirators in India would contact victims by phone, falsely claiming their identities had been used in criminal activities and that their cash or gold needed to be handed over to a federal agent for safekeeping. Shah then posed as this agent to collect the valuables.

Court records indicate that Shah successfully collected over $3.7 million from 15 victims across the U.S. before his arrest. He was apprehended in New Berlin, Wisconsin, while attempting to collect further proceeds from a fraud operation using the same method. The sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig on July 27.

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This case highlights the danger faced by Americans from fraudsters both here and overseas.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel highlighted the pervasive threat of international fraud networks targeting Americans, stating, "This case highlights the danger faced by Americans from fraudsters both here and overseas." He assured that authorities would continue to dedicate significant resources to investigating and prosecuting such offenders to protect the public.

Eric Rice, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Wisconsin, emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in combating transnational fraud. He affirmed HSI's commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens from these schemes. The investigation involved a collaborative effort between Homeland Security Investigations and the New Berlin Police Department, with the U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuting the case.

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Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the American public from transnational fraud schemes that target our most vulnerable citizens.