New York— On June 5, 2025, U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas in Manhattan sentenced Hirenkumar Patel to 21 months in prison—the final defendant in a group of six Indian‑origin men convicted of running an unlicensed “hawala” network that funneled over $15 million in illicit cash between the U.S. and India.
Champlain, New York— Gurdev Singh, a 42-year-old Indian national, was arrested on May 28, 2025, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Champlain border crossing after being denied entry into Canada. Singh was found to have an active felony arrest warrant from Indiana for charges related to child solicitation and solicitation for sexual intercourse. Further investigation revealed that he had overstayed his U.S. visitor visa since 2016.
Franklin, Massachusetts— A 5-year-old Indian-American girl tragically lost her life, and her mother and brother sustained serious injuries, following a head-on collision on Grove Street in Franklin on May 25, 2025.
Image Credit: Wikimedia
Atlanta, GA: In a tragic incident, 22-year-old Indian-American Georgia Tech student Akash Banerjee was fatally shot in the head on May 18, 2025, at The Connector Apartments, an off-campus housing complex in Midtown Atlanta.
Carmel, Indiana— Darshan R. Soni, a 44-year-old Indian-American businessman, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to murder, allegedly plotting to kill his wife, Aparna Soni. The plan, which unfolded over several months, involved attempts to poison her and solicitations to employees for assistance in carrying out the murder.
Image Credit: DoorDash
Washington, D.C.: A 29-year-old Indian national, Aakash Prakash Makwana, residing unlawfully in Ronceverte, West Virginia, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025, to aggravated identity theft as part of a marriage fraud scheme intended to circumvent U.S. immigration laws.
Shelby Township, Michigan— A 25-year-old Indian student residing in Toledo, Ohio, has been arrested and charged with defrauding an elderly Michigan couple of $50,000. The suspect, Vedantkumar Bhupenbhai Patel, allegedly posed as a Treasury Department agent and claimed the couple's credit card was used to purchase illicit materials, coercing them into handing over cash to avoid legal consequences.
Los Angeles: In a startling case of immigration fraud and drug misuse, Chantelle Lavergne Woods, 54, from Nipomo, California, pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025, to misusing doctors' identities to create fraudulent medical documents for green card applicants and illegally obtaining prescription drugs using a deceased physician's credentials.
Greensboro, NC — On May 1, 2025, 21-year-old Indian national Kishan Kumar Singh was arrested in Guilford County, North Carolina, for allegedly attempting to defraud a 78-year-old woman by posing as a federal agent.
San Francisco, CA— Ramesh Kris Nathan, an Indian-American tech entrepreneur, was convicted last week on six counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
Seattle-Area
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA – A horrifying incident at a Fremont McDonald’s has shaken the Indian and Desi diaspora in America. A peaceful family lunch turned into a moment of terror when a stranger slapped an Indian mother in front of her children, hurled racist abuse, and threw sauce at her young daughter—telling them: “You Indians need to go back to your country.”
Prospect Park, NJ: Anand Shah, a 42-year-old Indian-American councilman from Prospect Park, New Jersey, has been arrested and charged in connection with a sprawling illegal gambling ring allegedly tied to the notorious Lucchese crime family.
Image Credit: LinkedIn
Boston, Massachusetts: Anurag Bajpayee, the Indian-origin CEO of the clean-tech firm Gradiant, was arrested earlier this year in connection with a high-profile brothel investigation near Harvard University.
Oklahoma City: Sai Kumar Kurremula, a 31-year-old Indian national residing in Oklahoma, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting multiple children online. Kurremula pleaded guilty to charges of child exploitation and distribution of child pornography. Upon release, he will be under lifetime supervision.
Image Credit: LinkedIn
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Atlanta, GA—In a distressing case of elder financial exploitation, Amit Patel, 37, and Dishaben Patel, 28, both from Dalton, Georgia, were arrested on March 19, 2025, in Monticello, Kentucky. The couple faces charges including Theft by Deception over $10,000, Exploitation of an Adult, and Engaging in Organized Crime.
Accomac, Virginia— In a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken a small town and devastated the Indian American community, 56-year-old Pradeep Patel and his 24-year-old daughter Urmi Patel were fatally shot during an early morning robbery at their family-run convenience store. The shooting occurred on March 20, 2025, in Accomack County, Virginia, as the pair prepared to open for the day.
Acworth, Georgia— What began as a normal day of shopping turned into a terrifying moment for a mother who thwarted an attempted kidnapping of her child at a Walmart in Acworth, Georgia. The suspect, 56-year-old Mahendra Patel of Kennesaw, has been arrested and charged after allegedly trying to snatch the child during a conversation inside the store.
Santa Ana, California— In a deeply disturbing case, 48-year-old Saritha Ramaraju has been charged with the murder of her 11-year-old son, Yatin, following a three-day trip to Disneyland. The killing reportedly occurred during a custody visit as part of a long-standing legal dispute with her ex-husband.
