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Indian man sentenced to prison in Indiana
Indian-American man sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for $1.5 million identity theft scheme, involving false IDs and unlicensed money transfers
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Rishika Bhardwaj
- Mon, 28, Aug 2023
- 19:03 EDT
- 15
An Indian-American resident of Plainfield, Indiana, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Vimalkumar Trivedi, 41, admitted to $1.5 million worth of identity theft, possessing false identity documents and running an unlicensed money transfer business. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt handed down the sentence, along with mandating 3 years of supervision by the U.S. Probation Office upon release.
Trivedi, along with collaborators in the U.S. and India, posed as federal law enforcement officers between April 2017 and April 1, 2021. They targeted multiple victims, including elderly individuals, coercing them into sending cash through FedEx to various locations, including Indianapolis. The scheme involved false claims that victims' Social Security numbers were linked to criminal activities, typically drug trafficking. Threatening arrest if cash wasn't sent to fictitious individuals, the criminals exploited fear to extort money.
Trivedi utilized fake IDs to pick up cash packages sent by defrauded victims. In total, he possessed 53 counterfeit IDs with his picture but with varying details. He collected $901,124 from 122 packages, keeping $60,000 for personal use and forwarding the rest to accomplices. The investigation identified around 17 confirmed victims, with approximately 50 more suspected victims and estimated losses totalling $1.5 million.
In a statement, Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Myers stated, “International fraud conspiracies steal from hard-working people using lies, manipulation, and fear. These vicious crimes often devastate families and individuals victimized by these heartless thieves. The sentence, in this case, demonstrates that fraudsters seeking a quick buck will pay a heavy price for their crimes. I commend the dedication of the FBI, NCIS, Postal Inspection Service, and Social Security Administration OIG, to hold these criminals accountable and seek justice for victims.”
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