Gujarati student in the US gets 8-yr jail for defrauding elderly

A 21-year-old from Gujarat, Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya, who arrived in the United States as a student, was sentenced to 8 years in jail by a federal court for defrauding elderly people across Texas.

According to the US Attorney's Office in Texas, US District Judge Robert Pitman sentenced Dhruv Mangukiya to 97 months in prison and directed him to pay  $2,515,780 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the Austin American Statesman reported.

According to court documents, Mangukiya received gold and cash from victims and split proceeds with co-conspirators.

Mangukiya was part of a gang that used online phishing and phone calls to target elderly people.  Conspirators claiming to be government officials would contact victims on the phone and tell them that their bank accounts or Social Security numbers were linked to criminal activity. They would then be asked to deposit cash or gold to settle an investigation or prevent any financial loss.

On December 5, 2024, agents arrested Mangukiya from his New Jersey residence. A printer for making fake IDs and more than $73,000 in cash was found from his house. He received 2% of the proceeds from his illegal activity, he said.