On September 16, 2025, Michael DiGiacomo, the federal attorney for the Western District of New York, announced the arrests of 8 individuals who stole over $11 million from approximately 139 elderly victims, as part of a collaborative effort from Save our Seniors. The scammers arrested are:
DHRUV PATEL
- A 34-year-old from Franklin Park, New Jersey
- Caught attempting to pick up $567,000 in gold bars from an elderly woman who fell victim to a tech support scam.
- Arrested after attempting to steal $48,000 from another elderly victim of a tech support scam.
- Accused of defrauding victims out of over $9.1 million
- Charged with wire fraud and the conspiracy to commit, money laundering and the conspiracy to commit, and transporting stolen money in interstate commerce and the conspiracy to commit.
- Currently serving a sentence of probation under a state fraud conviction.
STEPHEN ODIBOH
- A 53-year-old from Stone Mountain, Georgia
- Received $70,000 from an elderly woman who fell victim to a romance scam.
- Was previously convicted of money laundering whilst on supervised release in the Southern District of New York, and 3rd-degree forgery in the Gwinnett County Superior Court.
- Accused of victimizing individuals out of $356,525
- Charged with mail fraud and the conspiracy to commit, wire fraud and the conspiracy to commit and money laundering and the conspiracy to commit.
RENEE THOMPSON
- A 52-year-old of North Lauderdale, Florida
- Created 17 counterfeit checks totaling $193,167 from a Western NY company, deposited them into her personal checking account and laundered the funds.
- Debited $7,000 from a second company and continued to do so after receiving a “money mule letter,” stealing an estimated $234,485.22
- Was previously convicted for bank embezzlement in the Southern District of Florida.
- Charged with bank fraud and the conspiracy to commit, as well as money laundering and the conspiracy to commit.
CHRISTOPHER HERNANDEZ
- A 29-year-old from North Bergen, New York
- Stole over $175,000 from the retirement account of an elderly victim, deposited the funds to his own bank account and dispersed the funds.
- Manufactured and sold fake IDs and bank cards using stolen personally identifiable information.
- Accused of losses totalling $265,800.89
- Convicted of access device fraud and identity theft in the City of Mary’s, Pennsylvania, 2nd-degree attempted possession of a forged instrument in the Bronx, credit card theft in Hudson County, New Jersey and 4th-degree knowingly pointing a gun in Hudson County, New Jersey.
- Charged with possession and transfer of fraudulent ID documents and the conspiracy to commit, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud and the conspiracy to commit, and money laundering and the conspiracy to commit.
TOUHEDUL TUHIN and IFTEKHAR LATIF NIEON
- A 24-year-old and 23-year-old who reside in Kent, Ohio on student visas (GAUTMO!)
- Posed as agents with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collect $276,000 from elderly tech support scam victims.
- Charged with wire fraud and the conspiracy to commit, as well as money laundering and the conspiracy to commit.
ELIAS CIRCLE
- A 23-year-old from Rossford, Ohio
- Sent email solicitations to elderly victims under the guise of a government agency responsible for paying restitution to victims.
- Induced an elderly victim to send payments totaling approximately $600,000
- Charged with wire fraud and the conspiracy to commit, mail fraud and the conspiracy to commit and money laundering and the conspiracy to commit.
ESTERMARIE JONES
- A 35-year-old from my hometown of Rochester, New York.
- Obtained approximately 50 $1.00 postal money orders, altered them to increase their value to $1,000 and attempted to deposit them.
- Created fraudulent driver’s licenses under the names of eight victims to open bank accounts, register two businesses with the Monroe County Clerk’s Office, fraudulently endorse checks, register and pay for utilities and withdraw money from a victim’s bank account.
- Possessed 31 fraudulent/stolen IDs four fraudulent/stolen Social Security Cards and 65 fraudulent/stolen bank cards.
- Accused of losses totaling $190,032
- Charged with conspiracy, altering a postal money order, ID fraud, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud and the conspiracy to commit, bank fraud and the conspiracy to commit and money laundering and the conspiracy to commit.
