Elderly Man in Delaware County Defrauded by a Citizen of India in the United States on Student Visa

TULSA, Okla. – A citizen of India residing in San Antonio, Texas, and in the United States on a student visa, was indicted for defrauding an elderly man in Delaware County.

Venkateswara Chagamreddy, 27, is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Demand Money and Property While Falsely Impersonating a Federal Officer; and Conspiracy to Obstruct, Delay, and Affect Commerce by Extortion.

According to court documents, the elderly victim called a phone number that he believed was Microsoft support. While speaking with “Microsoft,” the victim was told that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that information would be turned over to the federal government. The victim was then contacted by someone who identified themselves as a federal officer and provided a false badge number. The fake federal officer told the victim that his identity had been stolen and provided to criminals, which resulted in him being “investigated,” and that his identity was used to commit federal crimes.

The fake federal officer spoke with the elderly victim about his finances and stated that he would be transferred to the “treasury department.”  The victim was told that his money needed to be transferred to gold and that an “officer” would pick it up the following day. The elderly victim complied and provided photos of the gold. When the fake officer arrived, the victim handed him the package of gold.

A few days later, the victim was contacted again by the fake federal officer, who demanded more funds. The victim contacted a family member, who explained that he was being scammed and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. With the victim's cooperation, deputies scheduled another pickup.

While deputies watched the arranged location, Chagamreddy arrived, and court documents allege that Chagamreddy was on the phone with the elderly victim when deputies arrested him. When deputies searched his vehicle, they found gold and marijuana, among other things. After waiving his right to an attorney present, Chagamreddy explained that he was in the United States on a student visa and was at risk of deportation after being suspended from school. Chagamreddy alleged that he recently travelled out of state to enroll in a different college and that, upon his return, the gold was in his vehicle.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.