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Two Men Arrested in Multi-State Scam and Money Laundering Operation
Published: 2026/01/31 19:06:58
Cleveland, OH – Two men of Indian origin, Tejas Patel and Navya Bhatt, have been arrested in the United States on federal money laundering charges.The arrests follow an investigation into a widespread scam operation that defrauded victims across Ohio,Michigan,and Pennsylvania,authorities announced on January 31,2026.
Details of the Arrests and Charges
Patel and bhatt each face three counts of money laundering . The investigation, led by the FBIS Cleveland Division Cyber Squad, revealed their alleged involvement in a complex network designed to conceal funds obtained through various fraudulent schemes.
The Nature of the Scams
investigators identified several scam tactics employed by the individuals and their network, including:
- PayPal Fraud: Exploiting vulnerabilities within the PayPal system to illicitly obtain funds.
- microsoft Tech Support Scams: Posing as Microsoft representatives to convince victims they had computer issues requiring immediate (and costly) repair.
- Bitcoin-Related Cons: Deceptive schemes involving cryptocurrency, capitalizing on the growing interest in digital assets.
Victims were often instructed