TULSA, Okla. - An Indian citizen living in the United States on a student visa has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a fraud scheme that targeted a 79-year-old Vietnam veteran and other elderly victims across several states.

U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Venkateswara Chagamreddy, 37, of San Antonio, to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution.

Chagamreddy was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to defraud the Oklahoma veteran. Federal prosecutors said he is expected to face immigration removal proceedings after completing his sentence.

The scheme began for the Delaware County victim in August 2025 when he called a telephone number he believed belonged to Microsoft support.

The person on the phone told him criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that the matter would be referred to the federal government. Another person then contacted the victim while posing as a federal officer and provided a fake badge number.

The victim was told his identity had been stolen and used to commit federal crimes and that he was under investigation. He was then transferred to someone purporting to represent the Treasury Department.

The scammers instructed the man to convert his money into gold and said an "officer" would collect it from him. The victim complied, sending photographs of the gold before handing the package to a person who arrived to retrieve it.

A few days later, the purported federal officer demanded more money.

This time, the victim contacted a family member, who recognized the scam and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies worked with the victim to arrange another pickup.

When Chagamreddy arrived at the veteran's home at the scheduled time, deputies arrested him. Authorities found $500 in cash, a cellphone and 23 ounces of gold in his vehicle, according to evidence presented at trial.

Investigators said messages recovered from Chagamreddy's phone showed the Oklahoma pickup was part of a broader operation targeting elderly victims in multiple states.

Federal agents testified that within a roughly 48-hour period, Chagamreddy traveled to collect gold from several victims while communicating with a co-conspirator.

Investigators said Chagamreddy flew from Austin to North Carolina, where he collected gold from an 87-year-old woman. After delivering it to another person, he sent a photograph of a dollar bill bearing a handwritten message indicating 29 ounces had been received and $3,000 paid, according to trial evidence.

The following day, Chagamreddy drove from Austin to Andale, Kansas, leaving around 1:21 a.m. Messages showed him sending his co-conspirator updates about his location and fuel levels during the trip.

After arriving in Kansas and resting at a hotel, Chagamreddy was directed to a 75-year-old woman's location. Prosecutors said he later sent a photograph of a sealed box with a message indicating it contained 23 ounces.

He then traveled to Delaware County, Oklahoma, where his co-conspirator provided information about the 79-year-old Vietnam veteran, including a photograph showing the man wearing a Vietnam veteran shirt.

Investigators said messages showed Chagamreddy sending photographs while trying to locate the victim's home on a rural road. He eventually sent a photograph confirming he had arrived and was arrested by deputies shortly afterward.

Chagamreddy will remain in custody pending transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

To find help or report elder abuse, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday.