NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Friendswood, TX, September 17, 2026: Three California men have been arrested in connection with an alleged organized gold scam targeting an elderly Texas resident, with investigators saying the case may be linked to a larger operation based in India.
Sukhvinder Singh, 39, of Lathrop; Daman Preet Singh, 35, of Riverside; and Mandeep Singh, 40, of Los Angeles have been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, according to the Friendswood Police Department. Sukhvinder Singh also faces a charge of theft of more than $300,000.
The investigation began in August after an elderly Friendswood resident approached police because he had become suspicious of people who had been communicating with him while posing as federal authorities.
According to Friendswood Detective Steven Sills, the man had spent about three weeks communicating with someone he believed was a federal agent. The caller allegedly told him his Social Security number had been compromised and instructed him to convert his life savings, approximately $500,000, into gold coins to keep the money safe.
A social worker who learned about the situation persuaded the man to contact police, investigators said.
Police then worked with the victim to arrange a sting operation.
On Aug. 25, investigators provided the victim with fake gold coins for a planned handoff to a man later identified as Sukhvinder Singh. Police followed Singh to a FedEx location inside a Walmart in Pearland and arrested him as he left the store.
Court records cited by ABC13 said investigators subsequently found information on Singh’s phone allegedly linking him to at least five co-conspirators. Singh reportedly told detectives that he had flown from California to collect the gold.
Singh was charged in Galveston County with theft of more than $300,000 and engaging in organized criminal activity. His bond was set at $1 million. Authorities said he is also being held on a federal immigration detainer.
But investigators said the calls to the victim did not stop after Singh’s arrest.
Members of the alleged operation continued contacting the senior citizen and used caller ID spoofing technology to make the calls appear to originate from the Friendswood Police Department, police said. The callers allegedly posed as law enforcement officers and even impersonated the detective investigating the case.
As the investigation expanded, police identified Daman Preet Singh and Mandeep Singh as additional suspects. Investigators allege the two played leadership roles in coordinating and financing the operation and laundering its proceeds.
Galveston County authorities issued warrants charging both men with engaging in organized criminal activity.
Friendswood investigators traveled to California, where Daman Preet Singh was arrested Sept. 9 with assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit. Investigators also executed a search warrant at his residence and reported finding evidence they believe is connected to the alleged operation.
Mandeep Singh was arrested the following day at his Los Angeles residence with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division. Both men were being held in California pending extradition to Galveston County.
Bond was set at $10 million for Daman Preet Singh and $5 million for Mandeep Singh.
Investigators believe the arrests could be part of a much larger investigation.
“There are more victims coming forward; we don’t believe this is the end of the line; this is the very start of this specific investigation,” Sills told ABC13.
Investigators also told the station they suspect the men may be connected to a larger, well-funded group operating out of India. Authorities have not publicly identified that alleged organization or announced charges against anyone in India.
The case follows another major gold scam investigation by Friendswood police earlier this year. In March, the department announced six arrests in connection with an alleged organized scheme linked to approximately $2.8 million in losses involving elderly victims across Texas.
Police have urged anyone who believes they may be the target of a similar scheme to stop communicating with the suspected scammers and contact local law enforcement.
