Gold, Cash and a $150 Million Trail: Jury Convicts U.S. Coordinator in Indian Call-Center Elder Fraud Scheme

Published Oct. 6, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

A federal jury in Austin, Texas, has convicted Bhavesh Kumar Thakkar, 45, an Indian national, on two counts related to wire fraud and money laundering for his role as a U.S.-based coordinator in a call-center scheme that took cash and gold from elderly Americans, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas announced on Oct. 5, 2026 [1]. Prosecutors say Thakkar was "directly connected to over $150 million in fraud proceeds scammed from elderly victims across the United States" [1].

He is the fourth person convicted in the case [1][2]. A jury verdict is a conviction; Thakkar has not yet been sentenced, and the release did not announce a sentencing date.

How the scheme worked

According to court documents and trial evidence described by prosecutors, the money was obtained by call-center scammers based in India. From at least September 2022 until Sept. 17, 2025, Thakkar, who was in the United States on a spousal visa, conspired with co-defendants to receive and launder the proceeds [1].

The scheme had three layers, based on the government's account and earlier coverage of the case:

1. The call. Callers falsely claimed to be government officials and told victims they had to deposit cash or gold to resolve an investigation or prevent financial loss, according to court documents described when a co-defendant was sentenced in 2025 [3]. In one example from those records, a Granite Shoals, Texas, victim withdrew $180,000 after being told his identity had been stolen and linked to drug cartels. In another, an elderly Fort Worth woman withdrew $30,000 after a fake "Amazon fraud department" representative said her Social Security number had been stolen [3].
2. The courier. Couriers collected the cash and gold from victims. Prosecutors say Thakkar personally received some of the funds from couriers, including co-defendants Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya and Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel [1].
3. The laundering. The funds were shipped to Los Angeles and New York before being laundered overseas, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office [1].

The FBI says government impersonation is one of the costliest scams it tracks. Between January 2025 and July 2026, its Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints of law enforcement or government impersonation scams, with losses totaling more than $1.6 billion, and it notes that scammers demand payment through methods including couriers [4].

"Foreign actors, both abroad and here in the United States, cannot be allowed to target Americans, especially our most vulnerable citizens," U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons said. "Many victims lose a significant portion of their life savings to these scammers, leaving victims vulnerable and hopeless." [1]

The people charged and their status

Bhavesh Kumar Thakkar, 45. Convicted by a federal jury in Austin on two counts related to wire fraud and money laundering, as announced Oct. 5, 2026. Prosecutors describe him as the U.S.-based coordinator for receiving and laundering cash and gold taken from elderly victims [1]. He awaits sentencing; no date was announced in the sources we reviewed. His city of residence was not reported.

Rakesh Barot. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and is awaiting sentencing, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office [1]. His age and city were not reported.

Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya. Sentenced in 2025 to 97 months in federal prison [1]. CBS Austin reported in November 2025 that Mangukiya, then 21 and living in the U.S. on a student visa, was ordered to pay $2,515,780 in restitution for conspiracy to commit money laundering, that he received gold and cash from victims, and that he admitted receiving 2% of fraud proceeds [3].

Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel. Sentenced in 2025 to 63 months in federal prison [1][3].

The FBI and the Granite Shoals Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Henneke and Brandy Gann are prosecuting [1].

Important: Thakkar has been convicted by a jury but has not been sentenced. Barot has pleaded guilty but has not been sentenced. Any defendant may appeal or seek other post-trial relief.

Red flags

• A "government official" who calls you first. The FBI says law enforcement and government authorities "will never contact members of the public by telephone or text message to demand any form of payment" [4].
• Any request to hand cash or gold to a courier. The FBI says officials "will never request payment via prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, or courier" [4].
• A crime you supposedly committed, or a stolen Social Security number. Victims in this case were told their identities were stolen or tied to cartels, or that a "fraud department" had found a problem [3].
• Secrecy and pressure. The FBI says impersonators often keep victims on the phone and urge them not to tell family, banks or police [4].
• Caller ID that looks official. Scammers often spoof real agency phone numbers and employee names [4].

What to do if you're targeted

1. Hang up. Look up the agency's or company's number yourself and call back. Never use a number the caller gives you [4].
2. Do not withdraw cash or buy gold because a caller told you to, and never hand money to anyone who comes to your door to collect it.
3. Call your bank right away if you have already sent money, and ask it to protect your accounts [4].
4. Report it to your local police and to the FBI at ic3.gov. Include phone numbers, messages, and details of any payments or pickups [4]. You can also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
5. Age 60 or older? The DOJ Elder Justice Hotline, 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11), can help you file an IC3 complaint [5].
6. Talk to family. If an older relative mentions a "government case," a "safe account," or a courier, step in and help them verify it.

Case status (as of Oct. 6, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 6, 2026	Source
Bhavesh Kumar Thakkar, 45	Federal, W.D. Texas (Austin)	Convicted by jury on two counts related to wire fraud and money laundering (announced Oct. 5, 2026); awaiting sentencing	[1], [2]
Rakesh Barot	Federal, W.D. Texas	Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering; awaiting sentencing	[1]
Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya	Federal, W.D. Texas	Sentenced in 2025 to 97 months; $2,515,780 restitution	[1], [3]
Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel	Federal, W.D. Texas	Sentenced in 2025 to 63 months	[1], [3]

Defendants who have not been sentenced may still challenge their convictions. Statuses can change.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas, "Fourth Defendant Convicted in Indian Call Center Elder Fraud Scheme," Oct. 5, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/fourth-defendant-convicted-indian-call-center-elder-fraud-scheme
2. Donny Wong, "Elder fraud call center scheme: More than $150 million scammed from victims," FOX 7 Austin, Oct. 5, 2026. https://www.fox7austin.com/news/elder-fraud-call-center-scheme-more-than-150-million-scammed-from-victims
3. Tara Brolley, "Man sentenced to over 8 years for defrauding elderly across Texas," CBS Austin, Nov. 13, 2025. https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/man-sentenced-to-over-8-years-for-defrauding-elderly-across-texas
4. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, "Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials in Fraud Schemes," PSA, Sept. 17, 2026. https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260917
5. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, "Scammers Use Couriers to Collect Cash in Cryptocurrency Investment Scams," Alert I-061526-PSA, June 15, 2026. https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260615

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