DENVER (KDVR) — A man in the country illegally will spend six years in prison after being sentenced in a sophisticated theft scheme that robbed a woman of her life savings in the form of gold bars worth more than $63,000.
Sagar Patel, 27, was sentenced Friday in the July 2023 scheme in which an 80-year-old Highlands Ranch woman was victimized when she clicked a “pop up” message on her computer warning her about a supposed virus on her computer, the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced Friday in a press release. She then spoke to a man on a phone number provided in the popup who claimed to be a federal agent.
The man convinced her that her bank account was compromised and that she needed to purchase two 1 kilo gold bars, valued at more than $126,000 together. She later handed those gold bars over Patel, who was pretending to be an undercover agent.
“While no sentence can undo what happened to my mother, this conviction brings a small sense of justice and closure for the family,” the victim’s son, William Wilcox said in the press release.
The woman recorded the man’s vehicle license plate, which the district attorney’s office called a “critical decision” that eventually led to Patel’s arrest.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in a press release Saturday credited Detective Eric Oppeau with tracking down Patel using subpoenaed credit card, car rental, and telephone information. Oppeau later was able to place Patel at the scene of the theft.
The sheriff’s office said the breakthrough came when Oppeau worked with a New Jersey task force to find Patel. He was arrested in February 2024 and placed on an immigration hold due to being in the country illegally. He is from India, according to the sheriff’s office.
“This case exemplifies the dedication and resourcefulness of our Financial Crimes Unit investigators,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said in the sheriff’s office press release. “Detective Oppeau pursued every lead, never losing sight of the victim’s need for justice. We are proud of the work done to bring this criminal to justice, and this case underscores our commitment to protect those at risk.”
The district attorney’s office said Patel is under investigation for similar crimes in Delaware and New York.
George Brauchler, district attorney in the 23rd Judicial District, praised the victim’s bravery and the sheriff’s office, and also gave a warning to others thinking they can scam residents in his district.
“The victim’s bravery and DCSO’s relentless efforts helped us to catch this despicable thief and bring him to justice,” Brauchler said. “I will continue to warn criminals: if you come here to victimize us, bring a toothbrush. Expect incarceration.”
