ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Indian citizen Syed M. Makki sentenced in Illinois for elder fraud
Officials said at least 12 victims have been identified so far, with total losses exceeding $6 million.
-
Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 21, May 2026
- 23:33 EDT
- 29
Representative image / Pexels
A 38-year-old Indian citizen, Syed M. Makki, was sentenced to 15½ years in prison in Kansas, Illinois, without parole for his role in an elder fraud conspiracy, notified the U.S. Attorney's Office on May 21.
In a scam in which victims were duped into liquidating their savings and retirement accounts to buy gold bars, coins, and cash, Makki acted as a courier for the conspiracy, in which he picked up gold bullion and cash from victims throughout the country and delivered it to co-conspirators.
Apart from the prison sentence, United States District Judge Greg Kays also ordered Makki to pay $4,754,000 in restitution and ordered forfeiture of the gold bars, plus a money judgment.
Also Read: ICE arrests Indian nationals convicted in U.S. case
Federal authorities allege that the fraud scheme operated between 2023 and March 2024 and targeted elderly Americans by using fake malware pop-ups and impersonating Microsoft employees, banking officials, government agents, and law enforcement officers.
Investigators said the scammers convinced victims, aged between 61 and 80, that their identities and bank accounts had been compromised. Victims were allegedly persuaded to liquidate retirement and bank accounts and use the money to purchase gold bars and coins for supposed “safekeeping.”
According to prosecutors, victims were sometimes instructed to package the gold and label it for the “Department of Justice” to make the scheme appear legitimate. Authorities allege that Makki and other co-conspirators collected the gold and transported it across state lines.
On March 25 and 26, 2024, Makki allegedly collected 16 gold bars weighing one kilogram each, worth more than $1 million, from victims in Colorado and Missouri.
Authorities said he was arrested in Illinois on March 27, 2024, while transporting the gold bars to other alleged co-conspirators.
Officials said at least 12 victims have been identified so far, with total losses exceeding $6 million.
Makki was apreheanded as part of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Douglas County, Colorado Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Highway Patrol, and the Morgan County, Illinois Sheriff’s Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login