An Indian national, Atharva Shailesh Sathawane, 22, has been found guilty by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in an international scheme that defrauded elderly victims of nearly $8 million.
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, John P. Heekin, announced the verdict on Thursday.
Sathawane, who was in the United States illegally, worked as a courier in the large-scale fraud network.
Testimony during the trial showed that the scheme targeted elderly victims, convincing them to liquidate their retirement savings and convert them into cash or gold. Sathawane then collected these assets directly from the victims and delivered them to unidentified individuals in various parking lots.
He coordinated these exchanges with other conspirators, including partners based in India.
“This successful prosecution was made possible by the outstanding investigative work of our local and federal law enforcement partners, and this criminal alien will be held accountable for his role in the financial exploitation of several vulnerable, elderly victims,” said U.S. Attorney Heekin. “We will see to it that fraudsters are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The extensive investigation involved the Gainesville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI).
Apprehension and Evidence
Authorities uncovered Sathawane’s involvement after one elderly victim became suspicious. Local law enforcement staged a ruse that led to his arrest when he arrived at the victim’s Gainesville home to collect additional gold.
A search of Sathawane’s cell phone revealed his significant participation in the operation, showing that he had taken part in more than 30 transactions across multiple states. Many American citizens suffered severe financial losses, with some losing their life savings.
Sathawane faces up to 20 years in prison for each conviction. His sentencing is set for December 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville.
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