GREENFIELD, Ohio — A dramatic sting operation led to the arrest of Yashkumar P. Patel on Tuesday in Greenfield after he allegedly swindled an elderly resident out of $40,000 and attempted to extract another $30,000 by posing as a federal agent, authorities said.
The Greenfield Police Department, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, and Highland County Task Force collaborated to apprehend Patel, who faces charges of theft from an elderly person. Investigators said the scam began a week earlier when a caller, claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission, told the victim her personal information was stolen and linked to drug trafficking, child pornography, and money laundering.
The caller warned that her funds were being seized pending a federal investigation and arranged for a man to collect $40,000 from her home. Days later, the same individual allegedly demanded an additional $30,000. Growing wary, the victim alerted law enforcement.
On Tuesday, authorities set a trap. When Patel arrived at the victim’s home to collect what he believed was $30,000, officers swarmed, taking him into custody. Patel, believed to be from India and a Canadian citizen, was caught red-handed, police said.
The Highland County Task Force urged residents to stay vigilant against similar scams and report suspicious demands to law enforcement immediately.