Pradip Parikh and Alpesh Patel have been found guilty of their involvement in a telephone scam that defrauded numerous Americans out of millions. The convictions followed a five-day jury trial in Atlanta, where both men faced charges for orchestrating a scheme that primarily targeted elderly victims.
“This case involved a scheme to defraud multiple victims – many of whom were elderly – and to callously rob them of their hard-earned savings,” stated U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The defendants and their conspirators within and outside the United States enriched themselves through government-imposter scams designed to exploit the public’s inherent trust in federal institutions.”
The scam involved impersonating Social Security officials to deceive victims into believing their Social Security Numbers were compromised. Victims were then persuaded to transfer money into accounts controlled by Parikh, Patel, and others under the guise of asset protection.
Michelle L. Anderson from the Social Security Administration emphasized the impact on vulnerable citizens: “These defendants deliberately preyed on some of our most vulnerable citizens—particularly the elderly—by impersonating Social Security officials and exploiting their trust.”
FBI Atlanta Special Agent Paul Brown highlighted the importance of protecting community members from such schemes: “This sentencing should make it known to individuals that protecting our most vulnerable community members is critically important.”
Testimonies during the trial revealed significant financial losses among victims, including one woman who transferred over $600,000 upon threats of arrest and asset loss. Another victim was deceived into transferring over $300,000.
Parikh and Patel face severe penalties with conspiracy to commit wire fraud carrying up to 20 years imprisonment, while money laundering charges carry up to ten years each.
Sentencing will occur at a later date before Judge William M. Ray II. The case was investigated by both the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney Angela Adams and Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane C. Schulman are leading the prosecution efforts against Parikh and Patel.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern District of Georgia continues its work as part of the Department of Justice Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, focusing on foreign-based fraud schemes affecting American seniors.
For further information or inquiries, contact can be made through USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185.
