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Indian-origin men held in U.S. for gold-crypto scam
Federal authorities mentioned that the money laundering operation was connected to a bigger network involved in moving and concealing funds obtained through fraud.
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Rwittika Chakraborty
- Mon, 02, Feb 2026
- 03:05 EST
- 22
Representative image / Pexels
Two Indian-origin men, Tejas Patel and Navya Bhatt, have been apprehended in the United States on federal money laundering charges after an investigation into a large scam operation that targeted victims across several states.
Patel and Bhatt each face three counts of money laundering, after federal agents uncovered their alleged role in a series of scams that defrauded people of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
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Investigators said that the scams included PayPal fraud, fake Microsoft computer repair schemes, and Bitcoin-related cons. Victims were asked to make payments in unusual forms, including gold bars, cryptocurrency, and large amounts of cash.
Court documents explain how one female individual in Toledo was hoaxed into giving over $40,000 in cash after the accused falsely claimed that they were representatives of the Federal Trade Commission.
Federal authorities mentioned that the money laundering operation was connected to a bigger network involved in moving and concealing funds obtained through fraud.
The duo appeared in federal court last week, waiving preliminary hearings. Patel’s detention hearing is set for Feb. 6, while Bhatt is currently under an ICE detainer and has not yet been given another court date.
The investigation was led by the FBI's Cleveland Division Cyber Squad, which focuses on computer-related and financial crimes.
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