An investigation into a suspected fraud targeting an elderly resident in Texas has led police to a man from Gujarat, with authorities now examining whether he was involved in similar cases in the Houston area.
Suchit Patel was arrested on October 3 at a residence in Richmond, Texas, by investigators from the Friendswood Police Department. He faces allegations of participating in an organised criminal scheme targeting elderly people and theft involving less than $300,000. The charges are classified as a first-degree felony under Texas law.
Patel has been remanded in custody, with bail set at $10 million, approximately ₹88 crore. US authorities have also placed an immigration detainer on him.
Elderly Resident Allegedly Tricked Into Handing Over Savings
The investigation began on September 15, when an elderly resident of Friendswood reported being deceived by someone pretending to be a federal agent.
According to the allegations, the victim was persuaded to purchase gift cards worth $25,000 and convert approximately $185,000 from their savings into gold bars.
The gold, silver and cash collected during the alleged scheme were subsequently transferred to a courier, prompting investigators to trace the people involved in handling the assets.
Courier’s Arrest Led Investigators to Patel
Investigators identified the courier as Rajdeep Singh, 27, who is from California. Singh was arrested in Fort Bend County on September 16, with assistance from the Meadows Place Police Department.
His arrest helped investigators identify Patel, who was later taken into custody under warrants issued in Galveston and Fort Bend counties.
During a search of a residence as part of the investigation, police recovered gold, silver and cash valued at approximately $41,565.40, or around ₹35.3 lakh.
Police said the total value of monetary assets recovered through recent searches connected to the investigation had exceeded $750,000, equivalent to approximately ₹6.6 crore.
Police Suspect Links to Other Victims
Authorities are now working to identify the rightful owners of the recovered assets and determine the full extent of the alleged fraud.
Friendswood Police Chief Josh Rogers said investigators were focused on returning the recovered property to its owners and holding everyone involved accountable.
Police also suspect Patel may have connections to multiple victims across the Houston area. Authorities have appealed to the public for information that could help establish whether other individuals were targeted.
The investigation remains focused on tracing the recovered assets, identifying potential victims and establishing the roles of those allegedly involved in the scheme.
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