Illinois Man Held in Connection with Gold Bar Scam

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Gaithersburg, MD – 23-year-old Neel Patel of Carol Stream, IL, has been arrested for allegedly targeting elderly individuals through a government-imposter-related gold bar scam.

In early March of 2024, a victim reported that she had been contacted by an person who identified himself as being with the Office of the Inspector General – Federal Trade Commission. The victim was advised that she had been the victim of an identity theft which led to a federal investigation involving drugs and money laundering. The victim was then directed to transfer all assets into gold bars, which would then be picked up by a courier who is an “FBI Agent” to take to the US Department of Treasury for safekeeping.

The victim complied with the suspect’s demands and completed two separate deliveries of gold bars to the couriers, worth over $789,000.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified Patel as the courier of the first delivery of gold bars worth over $331,000 and obtained a warrant for his arrest. Detectives previously arrested Wenhui Sun for his involvement as the second courier who picked up gold bars from the victim.

On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at approximately 11 p.m., Patel was arrested at Chicago O’Hare International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Dublin, Ireland. On August 6, 2024, MCPD Detectives extradited Patel to Maryland.

Patel is currently being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he awaits a bond hearing.

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Detectives want to remind the community that law enforcement will never attempt to contact you in this manner.

For additional information regarding frauds and scams or to learn how to report a situation, please visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/fraud/financial-crimes-section.html .

For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail_Pol.aspx?Item_ID=45661