Two Indian migrants from California have been sentenced to six years in prison for stealing over $200,000 worth of gold bars from an elderly woman in Douglas County. Punit Punit, 30, and Anil Dhiman, 35, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit theft and attempted theft, as announced by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Scam Targeting Elderly Woman
The crime began with a ransomware attack on the 76-year-old woman’s iPad in March. She was instructed to call a number where she was connected with individuals posing as officials from her bank’s fraud department. The scammers convinced her to transfer $200,000 into a new bank account and purchase $203,000 worth of gold bars from a store in Littleton, which she then handed over to an “undercover agent” in Castle Pines.
Law Enforcement Intervention
Alerted to this fraudulent scheme, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation and eventually set up an undercover sting operation. When the suspects returned for another exchange of gold bars, they were apprehended by detectives at the drop-off location.
Legal Consequences and Deportation
Dhiman and Punit were arrested and each given a $10,000 bond. They were also ordered to pay restitution to the victim. Following their prison terms, both individuals are expected to be deported back to India. The perpetrators had previously engaged in a similar crime in California and would travel to Colorado to collect stolen gold bars as part of their scheme.
Insight
This case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals to financial scams and emphasizes the importance of vigilance and education in preventing such exploitation. Criminals often target seniors due to perceived weaknesses in their financial acumen or susceptibility to coercion. It is crucial for communities and law enforcement agencies to work together to protect the elderly from falling victim to such deceptive schemes.
Deputy District Attorney Sherri Giger expressed concern over the impact of the criminals’ actions on the victim, stating, “These defendants targeted and preyed on an elderly adult – not once, but twice – forever changing the victims’ lives. Because of their selfish actions, this victim and her husband will not be able to enjoy the retirement they worked their entire lives to build. Had Mr. Dhiman and Mr. Punit not been caught, I have no doubt that they would have continued targeting more vulnerable victims through this scheme.”
Two Indian migrants from California have been sentenced to six years in prison for stealing over $200,000 worth of gold bars from an elderly woman in Douglas County. Punit Punit, 30, and Anil Dhiman, 35, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit theft and attempted theft, as announced by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Scam Targeting Elderly Woman
The crime began with a ransomware attack on the 76-year-old woman’s iPad in March. She was instructed to call a number where she was connected with individuals posing as officials from her bank’s fraud department. The scammers convinced her to transfer $200,000 into a new bank account and purchase $203,000 worth of gold bars from a store in Littleton, which she then handed over to an “undercover agent” in Castle Pines.
Law Enforcement Intervention
Alerted to this fraudulent scheme, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation and eventually set up an undercover sting operation. When the suspects returned for another exchange of gold bars, they were apprehended by detectives at the drop-off location.
Legal Consequences and Deportation
Dhiman and Punit were arrested and each given a $10,000 bond. They were also ordered to pay restitution to the victim. Following their prison terms, both individuals are expected to be deported back to India. The perpetrators had previously engaged in a similar crime in California and would travel to Colorado to collect stolen gold bars as part of their scheme.
Insight
This case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals to financial scams and emphasizes the importance of vigilance and education in preventing such exploitation. Criminals often target seniors due to perceived weaknesses in their financial acumen or susceptibility to coercion. It is crucial for communities and law enforcement agencies to work together to protect the elderly from falling victim to such deceptive schemes.
Deputy District Attorney Sherri Giger expressed concern over the impact of the criminals’ actions on the victim, stating, “These defendants targeted and preyed on an elderly adult – not once, but twice – forever changing the victims’ lives. Because of their selfish actions, this victim and her husband will not be able to enjoy the retirement they worked their entire lives to build. Had Mr. Dhiman and Mr. Punit not been caught, I have no doubt that they would have continued targeting more vulnerable victims through this scheme.”
