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Indian students in U.S. charged for scamming elderly person
Both suspects were nabbed following an investigation initiated by the Investigations Division Financial Crimes Unit at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
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Yasmin Tinwala
- Thu, 01, May 2025
- 16:21 EDT
- 135
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Representative Image / Canva
Two Indian students in the U.S. were arrested for scamming an elderly individual in Colorado.
Mahammadadilham Vahora and Hajiali Vahora, both 24-year-old students on student visas at the East-West University in Chicago, Illinois were charged with robbery, money laundering- illegal investments, and theft.
The victim reached out to authorities at Colorado’s El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Regional Communications Center in October 2024 and reported to have received multiple threats from a scammer who posed as a “government agent.”
Also Read: Indian national sentenced to prison for smuggling non-citizens into US
Both suspects were nabbed following an investigation initiated by the Investigations Division Financial Crimes Unit at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. The Vahoras were identified and located through a cellphone tower record tracing. They were booked into the El Paso County Jail in April 2025 and are the subjects of a continued investigation involving victims across the United States.
Money laundering in Colorado is classified as a felony, and penalties range from 2 to 24 years of imprisonment depending on the amount involved. Fines can exceed US$1 million. Robbery is classified as a Class 4 felony and carries a sentence of up to four to six years in prison and/or US$2,000 to US$500,000. A conviction for felony theft in the state of Colorado is punishable by one to 24 years in prison, fines of up to $1,000,000, and restitution to the victim.
“Shame on anyone who defrauds our elderly citizens,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “I am incredibly proud of my Financial Crimes Unit, as they continuously educate this vulnerable population regarding the risks of scammers and then hold accountable the low-life criminals who prey on their limited resources,” he added.
Roybal further warned, “Scammers are around every corner, and it is crucial for families and friends to be talking to their elderly loved ones about the signs of a scam phone call or email. I encourage the citizens of the Pikes Peak region to connect with those who are vulnerable and remind them to NEVER give currency to anyone claiming to be a government agency while posing threats!”
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