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FBI hunts Indian-origin fraudster ‘Kenny’ Patel
The alleged scheme involved victims being misled into sending cash and prepaid debit cards to addresses across the United States.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 18, Mar 2026
- 17:38 EDT
- 18
Kalpeshkumar R. Patel, / FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced its search for an Indian-origin man wanted for his alleged role in a nationwide mail fraud scheme.
Kalpeshkumar Rasikbhai Patel, also known as “Kenny” Patel, is believed to be residing in or traveling between Illinois and Pennsylvania, the FBI said, seeking information on his whereabouts.
Also Read: $1M reward offered for Indian suspect in Maryland murder
Patel is wanted for defrauding multiple victims between 2017 and 2021. According to authorities, victims were contacted, often by phone, and deceived into believing their identities or personal information were linked to criminal activity.
Kalpeshkumar Rasikbhai Patel, also known as Kenny Patel, is #wanted by the #FBI for his alleged participation in a nationwide scheme to defraud multiple victims into transmitting large sums of money, usually in the form of cash and prepaid debit cards, to addresses throughout the… pic.twitter.com/txx9YtRKaz
— FBI (@FBI) March 18, 2026
Investigators said victims were persuaded to transfer large sums of money, typically in cash or prepaid debit cards, to addresses across the United States.
Patel, 33, was born on May 17, 1991, in India. He is described as having black hair and brown eyes, standing approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 185 pounds. He has worked as a fuel station attendant, cashier, and store worker.
Authorities said Patel uses multiple aliases, including “Mecco,” “Kenny,” Kalpeshkumar R. Patel, and Kalpesh Patel. A federal arrest warrant was issued on June 22, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, where Patel was charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
The FBI has classified Patel as a fugitive and said any information regarding his location should be treated as significant. Members of the public have been urged to contact their nearest FBI office or a U.S. embassy or consulate with relevant information.
White-collar crimes, such as mail and wire fraud, typically involve non-violent financial schemes in which victims are deceived into transferring money or sensitive information, often through impersonation or false claims of legal trouble.
In a separate case, the FBI earlier this month increased the reward to up to $1,000,000 for information leading to the arrest of Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, an Indian national on the agency’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
He is wanted in connection with the 2015 killing of his wife, Palak Patel, at a doughnut shop in Hanover, Maryland, where both were employed. Investigators said he fled after the incident and has remained at large, and authorities believe he may have left the United States.
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