NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Macon, GA, April 9, 2026: Two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, accused of carrying out a nationwide phone scam that netted at least $116,000 from victims, including several in Central Georgia.
Mihir Patel and Himanshubhai Barot were charged in an indictment returned on March 10 and later unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Macon Division.
According to prosecutors, the alleged scheme operated over a short but intensive period—from March 1 to March 15, 2021—during which the two men are accused of calling individuals across the United States while posing as law enforcement officers or other government officials. Victims were allegedly told they needed to send large sums of cash to “protect their legal and financial interests.”
The indictment states that victims were instructed to mail between $10,000 and $30,000 in cash to businesses in Central Georgia, including locations in Houston County and Bibb County. In multiple instances, the packages were addressed to a person identified as “David Williams.”
Court records indicate that at least seven victims from different states mailed money as part of the scheme. Prosecutors detailed the transactions as follows:
- $20,500 from Oregon sent to Perry
- $10,000 from Nevada sent to Perry
- $16,000 from Maryland sent to Warner Robins
- $10,000 from New York sent to Kathleen
- $20,000 from California sent to Macon
- $10,000 from California sent to Warner Robins
- $30,000 from Minnesota sent to Warner Robins
According to the indictment, the cash was typically sent to stores, primarily in Houston County. Prosecutors allege that Patel would then retrieve the packages using a fake identification bearing the name “David Williams.”
After collecting the money, the defendants allegedly photographed and recorded videos of the packages being opened, showing the cash inside, and shared the images with other co-conspirators.
Authorities say the scheme was successful, with total losses in Central Georgia alone reaching at least $116,000. Officials have not disclosed whether additional victims may be identified or whether more individuals could be charged.
If convicted, Patel and Barot face significant penalties. A conviction for conspiracy to commit mail fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with fines and restitution.
