PORTLAND, Maine (Diya TV) — An Indian national has received a nine-year prison sentence for his role in a multi-state fraud conspiracy that stole nearly $1.9 million from at least eight victims across five states. The scheme involved callers impersonating government officials and convincing victims to exchange their savings for gold and cash.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced 47-year-old Prakashkumar Prajapati on Nov. 4 in U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine. In addition to the prison term, the judge ordered Prajapati to pay $1,897,386 in restitution to the victims.
Prajapati pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Jan. 15, 2026. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, he worked with several others to carry out the fraudulent operation.
Court records show that the conspiracy targeted people through telephone calls from individuals pretending to represent government agencies. The callers falsely claimed that the victims faced financial or legal risks and needed to protect their money.
As part of the scheme, the fraudsters instructed victims to withdraw cash from their bank accounts and purchase gold. They claimed the government needed to hold these valuables for safekeeping.
The victims then received instructions to meet people posing as government agents. These individuals collected the cash and gold directly from them.
However, the callers had no government authority. Instead, they used false identities and misleading claims to steal the victims’ savings.
Prajapati directed his co-defendant, Bharat Awasarmol, to collect money and gold from victims as part of the operation.
The FBI arrested Awasarmol after agents caught him accepting a package from a victim in Maine. The victim had received instructions from someone claiming to work for the Federal Trade Commission. That person told the victim to meet Awasarmol and hand over gold bars.
Investigators later connected the operation to seven additional victims. They lived in New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Like the Maine victim, they received calls from people falsely claiming to be government officials.
Together, the eight victims lost $1,897,386, according to federal prosecutors. The investigation revealed the scale of the conspiracy and the financial damage it caused across multiple states.
Awasarmol pleaded guilty on Dec. 9, 2025. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
He also faces a separate charge of making a false statement. That charge carries a possible five-year prison sentence and another fine of up to $250,000.
Awasarmol will appear for sentencing in January 2027. Meanwhile, the FBI investigated the case and helped uncover the multi-state fraud operation.
The case also comes as federal authorities continue to target financial scams, including schemes that exploit older Americans.
In a statement, the Justice Department reported nearly 350 criminal and civil enforcement actions against 712 defendants between July 2025 and July 2026. Those cases involved allegations or charges of stealing more than $4.8 billion from over 700,000 victims.
Furthermore, the department said its efforts helped return millions of dollars to older Americans who had suffered financial losses. Authorities also helped prevent tens of millions of dollars in additional losses.
The Justice Department continues to urge older Americans and their families to report suspected fraud. Victims and relatives can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 for assistance.
Federal officials also encourage people to remain cautious when callers claim to represent government agencies. Legitimate government officials do not ask people to buy gold or hand over cash for safekeeping.
