Hirenkumar Chaudhari Sentenced to 3 Years for Laundering Money From Fake Social Security and DOJ Callers Who Targeted Seniors

Case from 2021–2022 (U.S. Attorney's Office latest release: July 29, 2022). Published on Scammers.com Oct. 16, 2026; case status is current as of that date.

Hirenkumar P. Chaudhari, 29, of Des Plaines, Illinois, was sentenced July 29, 2022, to three years in federal prison. He laundered money from a telemarketing scheme in which callers posing as Social Security and Justice Department officials scammed elderly victims, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois [1]. U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis ordered him to pay $6,500 in restitution.

How the scheme worked

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office and Chaudhari's plea agreement [1] [2]:

1. The calls. Callers falsely claimed to be with the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies. They told victims their identities had been stolen and that they needed to move money into various bank accounts.
2. The receiving accounts. Chaudhari used a fake Indian passport, a false name and a false address to open several U.S. bank accounts to receive the money.
3. Cashing out. A retired nurse from Massachusetts sent more than $900,000 from her bank and retirement accounts to accounts controlled by Chaudhari or others. On April 19, 2018, one day after he opened an account and received a $7,000 transfer from her, Chaudhari withdrew $6,500 at a Chicago bank branch, knowing the money came from crime.

The person sentenced

Hirenkumar P. Chaudhari, 29, Des Plaines, Ill. [1] [2]

• Plea: guilty to one count of money laundering on Jan. 6, 2021.
• Sentence: 3 years in federal prison and $6,500 in restitution, imposed July 29, 2022.
• Investigation: the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Social Security Administration OIG and Homeland Security Investigations.

Red flags

• A call saying your Social Security number or identity has been "compromised" and you must move your money to protect it.
• Anyone claiming to be from a government agency who tells you to transfer money, buy gift cards or withdraw cash. Agencies never do this.
• Pressure to keep the call secret from your bank or family.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Hang up. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, or the agency involved, at a number you look up yourself.
2. If you've sent money, call your bank right away to try to stop or recall the transfer.
3. Report impersonation scams to the SSA OIG at oig.ssa.gov, the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is 833-372-8311.

Case status (as of Oct. 16, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 16, 2026	Source
Hirenkumar P. Chaudhari, 29, Des Plaines, Ill.	N.D. Ill.	Pleaded guilty to money laundering Jan. 6, 2021; sentenced July 29, 2022, to 3 years and $6,500 restitution	[1], [2]

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, "Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Laundering Proceeds from Telemarketing Scheme That Defrauded Elderly Victims," July 29, 2022. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/suburban-chicago-man-sentenced-three-years-federal-prison-laundering-proceeds
2. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, "Suburban Chicago Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering Proceeds From Telemarketing Scheme That Defrauded Elderly Victims," Jan. 11, 2021. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/suburban-chicago-man-pleads-guilty-laundering-proceeds-telemarketing-scheme-defrauded

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