A federal jury convicted Venkateswara Chagamreddy, a 27-year-old Indian citizen living in San Antonio, Texas on a student visa, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in defrauding a 79-year-old Vietnam veteran in Delaware County, according to an April 15 announcement.
The case highlights the risks facing elderly Americans from sophisticated scams and underscores ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat such crimes. The victim was deceived by individuals posing as Microsoft support and federal officers who convinced him that his identity had been stolen and used for criminal activity. The scammers persuaded the victim to convert his savings into gold and hand it over to someone claiming to be an officer.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Chagamreddy worked with others across several states within two days, targeting elderly victims for gold thefts. Messaging found on his phone detailed coordinated trips from Austin, Texas to North Carolina and Kansas before arriving in Oklahoma. In each instance, he provided updates about his location and sent photos confirming pickups of gold from elderly victims. He was arrested after attempting another pickup at the home of the Delaware County victim.
The Department of Justice reported that in 2025 more than 280 enforcement actions were taken against over 600 defendants involved in elder fraud schemes nationwide, with losses exceeding $2.3 billion among more than one million Americans. Fraudulent tech support scams accounted for nearly $1 billion of those losses according to the official website.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma is part of the U.S. Department of Justice and enforces federal laws through impartial litigation and partnerships with law enforcement agencies across eleven counties including Tulsa County as outlined on its official website. The office employs more than sixty-five Assistant United States Attorneys dedicated to enhancing community safety according to its official website.
Chagamreddy remains in custody awaiting sentencing at a later date. Authorities encourage anyone experiencing or suspecting elder abuse or financial exploitation to contact resources such as the National Elder Fraud Hotline.
