Fake Federal Agent Who Collected Gold Bars From a Georgia Senior Gets 14 Years in Prison

Published Oct. 7, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

It started with a computer pop-up. Then came calls from people posing as Xfinity and Federal Trade Commission representatives, who eventually told a Columbia County, Georgia, woman in her 90s to buy gold and hand it to an "undercover federal agent." Prosecutors said that agent was Javed Ashiq, who admitted he played the part during two pickups at the woman's home in Evans [1].

On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, Senior U.S. District Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. sentenced Ashiq, 52, of Jacksonville, Florida, to 168 months (14 years) in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release [1][2]. He had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud [1].

The judge ordered $886,799.84 in restitution: $543,799.84 to the Columbia County woman and $343,000 to a Sandy Springs, Georgia, man defrauded in a similar scheme [1].

Important: Ashiq has pleaded guilty and been sentenced. A woman described by local outlets as his accomplice was also arrested; she has not been named in the reports we reviewed, and anyone not convicted is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court [2].

How the scheme worked

According to prosecutors and testimony described by Augusta-area news outlets:

1. The pop-up. The Columbia County scheme began with a computer pop-up, followed by phone calls from people posing as Xfinity and FTC representatives [1]. Deputies described it as a cable-television-related scam [2].
2. The "protection" story. The woman was convinced that federal authorities were protecting her money, when scammers were actually taking it [1].
3. The gold. She was directed to buy gold. Deputies said the scheme led her to order $241,000 worth of gold bullion that was supposed to be turned over to Ashiq [2].
4. The fake agent at the door. Ashiq admitted he posed as the "undercover federal agent" during two pickups at her home. At sentencing, Columbia County Sheriff's Investigator William Bonsack testified about one pickup involving three gold bars worth more than $240,000 [1].
5. The arrest. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office arrested Ashiq in July 2024 while he was on his way to meet the victim and complete a transaction [2][3].

A second victim: 10 cash pickups

Prosecutors also described a Sandy Springs case at the hearing. According to WFXG, Ashiq and his accomplices convinced an elderly man that his identity and savings were at risk after a fake Microsoft pop-up, then posed as Bank of America representatives and met with him 10 times to collect cash. Prosecutors said the man lost his entire life savings [3].

The FBI testified about its investigation, including communications through WhatsApp and people connected to the scheme in India [3]. Before he was sentenced, Ashiq apologized to the court and said his opioid addiction and poor decisions played a role in what happened [3].

Judge Bowen said Ashiq will be turned over to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings after he completes his prison term. If he is removed, his supervised-release conditions require him to stay outside the United States unless legally permitted to return [1].

The bigger picture

This case follows a pattern the FBI has warned about repeatedly: a tech-support or account-security scare, a hand-off to a fake government or bank official, and a courier who collects cash or precious metals in person. The FBI says it received nearly 61,000 complaints about law enforcement or government impersonation scams from January 2025 through July 2026, with reported losses of more than $1.6 billion [4]. The agency has also warned specifically about couriers sent to retrieve cash and precious metals from victims of tech-support and government impersonation scams [5].

Red flags

• A pop-up or call saying your computer, bank account or identity has been compromised, with a number to call.
• A "cable company," "Microsoft," "bank" or "FTC" representative who passes you to another official.
• Being told your money must be "protected" by converting it to gold or cash.
• Anyone who says a federal agent will come to your home to pick up gold or cash. The FBI says the U.S. government will never ask you to buy gold or other precious metals [5].
• Instructions to keep the matter secret from family or your bank.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Hang up and close the pop-up. Don't call the number on the screen. Call your bank using the number on your card or statement.
2. Never hand money, gold or cards to a courier. No real agency collects assets this way.
3. Talk to someone you trust before moving any money, and call local police if someone is scheduled to come to your home.
4. Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Keep phone numbers, messages, receipts and the names used by callers [4].
5. Already paid? Report quickly. In this case, deputies were able to intercept Ashiq on his way to a pickup [2].

Case status (as of Oct. 7, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 7, 2026	Source
Javed Ashiq, 52, Jacksonville, FL	Federal court, Augusta, Ga.	Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud; sentenced Oct. 6, 2026, to 168 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release and $886,799.84 in restitution; to be turned over to immigration authorities after his prison term	[1], [2], [3]
Unnamed female accomplice	Not reported	Arrested, per WRDW and WFXG; name and case status not reported in the sources we reviewed; presumed innocent	[2], [3]

Those not convicted are presumed innocent. Statuses can change.

Sources

1. Susan McCord, "Man sentenced in internet scam that cost Columbia County woman $543K in gold bars, cash," The Augusta Press, Oct. 7, 2026. https://theaugustapress.com/man-sentenced-in-internet-scam-that-cost-columbia-county-woman-543k-in-gold-bars-cash/
2. Staff, "Man sentenced in Augusta federal court for elderly fraud scheme," WRDW/WAGT, Oct. 6, 2026. https://www.wrdw.com/2026/10/06/man-sentenced-augusta-federal-court-elderly-fraud-scheme/
3. Chelsea Aalim, "Man sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for scams targeting elderly victims," WFXG, Oct. 6, 2026. https://www.wfxg.com/news/man-sentenced-to-14-years-in-federal-prison-for-scams-targeting-elderly-victims/article_f10f5a5c-ad8e-4d7b-a409-7f3f1e6c858a.html
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 Retrieve Cash and Precious Metals from Victims of Tech Support and Government Impersonation Scams," Alert I-012924-PSA, Jan. 29, 2024. https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240129

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