Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Connected to Role in Technical-Support Fraud Scheme

Baltimore, Maryland – A man pled guilty in federal court, today, to charges stemming from his involvement in a technical-support fraud scheme.

Priyanshu Walia, 41, of both Westminster, Maryland, and Cleveland, Ohio, pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with the scheme.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with the Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Criminal Investigations Group, and Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland.

According to his guilty plea, beginning in April 2017, and continuing through November 2021, Walia engaged in a conspiracy to defraud and obtain money by fraudulent pretenses in Maryland and elsewhere. Walia and his co-defendants, Kapil Gulati, 52, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, Amit Ahuja, 42, of Westminster, Maryland, and other co-conspirators, sought to enrich themselves by defrauding individuals, including older adults. 

As part of the scheme, the co-conspirators contacted victims through a pop-up window appearing on the victim’s computer directing them to call a phone number; an unsolicited phone call to victims; and a phone call initiated by a victim where they called a phone number they found online to connect with a legitimate technical support company. Additionally, in some instances, the co-conspirators caused the victims to receive pop-up windows with an audible alarm and messages that their device was “compromised” by a computer virus. Pop-up notifications also suggested that the victims contact a toll-free number staffed by individuals furthering the tech-support scheme.

The co-conspirators claimed that they would install expensive and high-quality network security software to resolve a purported serious computer virus or other threats to the computer. But Walia’s co-defendants didn’t have special knowledge, technical training, or credentials to provide computer services or repairs. 

While engaging the victims on the phone, the co-conspirators emphasized the need for immediate action to pay money to fix the purported computer issues. The co-conspirators led the victims to falsely believe that the actions of the tech-support scheme were affiliated with legitimate computer companies and legitimate computer security companies. 

Walia and his co-defendants provided money processing services for their co-conspirators in India and developed a fee structure for each transaction. He also formed shell companies for his co-defendants and himself to use to open numerous bank accounts. Victims’ payments went to these bank accounts that Walia and his co-conspirators controlled.

Their criminal conduct caused more than $5 million, but less than $15 million in losses, affecting more than 1,000 victims. Walia received at least $80,000, in connection with the scheme.

Walia is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud. Ahuja and Gulati previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and are awaiting sentencing dates.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS and HSI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Philip Motsay who are prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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