NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Tallahassee, FL, February 23, 2026: An Indian national who had overstayed his student visa has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his role in a large international fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars from elderly Americans, U.S. authorities said. Atharva Shailesh Sathawane, 23, was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering after prosecutors said he played a key role in an organized operation that targeted senior citizens across several states. He was sentenced in a federal court in Florida in January 2026.
According to investigators, Sathawane served as a courier for a wider criminal network that used deception and intimidation to extract money from elderly victims. Fraudsters would contact seniors — often posing as government officials or technical support agents — and pressure them into withdrawing or liquidating their savings. Victims were frequently instructed to convert funds into cash or gold for supposed “safekeeping” or to resolve fabricated legal or financial emergencies. Sathawane then traveled to victims’ homes to collect the money or gold in person and deliver it to co-conspirators. Authorities said he operated primarily in Florida but also traveled to multiple East Coast states as part of the scheme.
Prosecutors said Sathawane personally handled more than $6.6 million in stolen funds and valuables, while the broader network caused even greater losses. Several victims lost hundreds of thousands of dollars each, with some losing their life savings. The court ordered Sathawane to pay millions of dollars in restitution to those affected.
The scheme began to unravel when one targeted victim became suspicious and alerted law enforcement. Authorities arranged an undercover operation and arrested Sathawane when he arrived to collect additional gold. Investigators later confirmed his role through phone records, travel history, and other evidence.
Federal officials say the case reflects a growing wave of so-called “gold-bar scams” that specifically target older Americans. Law-enforcement agencies have warned that fraud rings increasingly use in-person couriers to collect assets, making the crimes harder to detect. While prosecutors described Sathawane as a participant rather than the mastermind of the international operation, they said his role was critical in carrying out the fraud and laundering the proceeds. Federal agencies continue to investigate other members of the network.
Cover photo of Athawane: US Department of Justice.
