ST. LOUIS, MO — A federal court has dismantled a sophisticated nationwide “gold courier” scam, sentencing 43-year-old Sital Singh to four years in prison for his role in a conspiracy that stripped elderly Americans of millions of dollars. U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp also ordered Singh to pay $6.6 million in restitution to the victims he helped defraud.
The scheme, which spanned multiple states including Texas, Florida, and Wisconsin, relied on a cold-blooded tactic: convincing senior citizens that their life savings were at risk and that purchasing physical gold was the only way to “protect” their wealth.
1. Anatomy of the Scam: How the Network Operated
Federal prosecutors detailed a highly organized hierarchy involving overseas callers and U.S.-based “handlers” and “couriers.”
- The Bait: Overseas scammers contacted victims via phone or email, posing as tech support or bank officials. They claimed the victims’ retirement accounts were “compromised” by hackers.
- The Instructions: Victims were told to liquidate their cash, purchase gold bars or coins, and hand them over to a “government-authorized” courier for safekeeping.
- The Roles: * Handlers (Singh, Chintankumar Parekh, Mehulkumar Darji): Coordinated the logistics, rented cars for couriers, and managed the cash flow.
- Couriers (Dariona Lambert, Zhamoniq Stevens): Traveled across the country to physically collect the gold from the doorsteps or parking lots of the victims.
2. Heartbreaking Losses
The FBI reported that the total losses from this specific network reached approximately $9.3 million.
- St. Louis Case: An 82-year-old woman was nearly defrauded of $250,000 after a “computer support” rep scared her into buying gold. Law enforcement intercepted the courier at her home.
- A Family’s Future: FBI Special Agent Chris Crocker highlighted a case where a couple in their 90s lost the entirety of a fund meant to support their disabled adult child for the rest of his life.
3. Sentences and Deportations
Judge Schelp handed down sentences to all five co-defendants involved in the conspiracy:
| Defendant | Role | Sentence | Legal Status/Notes |
| Sital Singh (43) | Handler | 4 Years | Ordered to pay $6.6M in restitution. |
| Chintankumar Parekh (52) | Handler | 4 Years | Unlawful resident; to be deported after prison. |
| Mehulkumar Darji (42) | Handler | 4 Years | Previously deported in 2014; to be deported again. |
| Dariona Lambert (24) | Courier | 2 Years | Collected gold across CA, FL, and PA. |
| Zhamoniq Stevens (24) | Courier | 18 Months | Conducted pickups in NY, OH, and AZ. |
4. Geographic Reach
The investigation revealed that the group operated like a franchise of fraud, hitting major cities and suburbs alike:
- Singh’s Territory: Tennessee (Collierville), Texas (Universal City), and Wisconsin (Greendale).
- Parekh’s Territory: Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
- Darji’s Territory: Scottsdale (AZ), Largo (FL), and La Jolla (CA).
Safety Tip: Protecting Seniors from Gold Scams
Federal authorities remind the public that no legitimate government agency or financial institution will ever ask you to purchase gold bars or coins to “secure” your funds. If you receive such a call:
- Hang up immediately.
- Call your bank directly using a trusted number from your statement.
- Report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov).