{"id":1791,"date":"2026-05-27T21:34:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T21:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=1791"},"modified":"2026-05-27T21:34:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T21:34:05","slug":"bradenton-gold-bar-scam-connected-to-nationwide-conspiracy-targeting-old-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=1791","title":{"rendered":"Bradenton gold bar scam connected to nationwide conspiracy targeting old adults"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BRADENTON, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>A 2024 investigation into a gold bar scam by the Bradenton Police Department helped uncover a nationwide conspiracy defrauding older adults out of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n

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Federal investigators discovered there were at least 12 victims who lost a total of more than $6 million.<\/p>\n

Bradenton financial fraud network<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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What we know:<\/p>\n

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A Bradenton man lost about $1.4 million in 2024 after fraudsters went to his home and claimed to be federal marshals with an arrest warrant.<\/p>\n

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Det. Jim Curulla, with the Bradenton Police Department, said the scammers preyed on the 80-year-old veteran’s patriotism by convincing him he could avoid being arrested if he helped them with a sting operation.<\/p>\n

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“They wanted him to help assist them in Social Security fraud,” Curulla said. “So, with his military background, they thought he would be an asset.”<\/p>\n

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Detectives say that over time, the man bought about $1.4 million worth of gold bars to give to the fraudsters.<\/p>\n

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Detectives tracked down Swetaben Patel in Georgia, who was picking up bags of those gold bars and transporting them to higher-ups in the conspiracy network.<\/p>\n

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Curulla says he started getting calls from agencies around the country that were investigating similar cases.<\/p>\n

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“I got a call from a detective out in Colorado saying that they had just arrested the Syed Makki,” Curulla said. “And in his phone, it had my victim’s name and address.”<\/p>\n

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Investigators believe Patel was working for Makki, who was overseeing these scams around the country.<\/p>\n

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Federal investigators say the victims ranged in age from 61 to 80 years old.<\/p>\n

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Last year, Patel was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. Last week, Makki was sentenced to 15.5 years in prison.<\/p>\n

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Investigators believe the larger conspiracy traces back to India.<\/p>\n

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Senior citizen criminal targets<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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What we don’t know:<\/p>\n

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It’s not clear how much of the stolen $1.4 million was successfully recovered or if any assets were returned to the victims.<\/p>\n

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National fraud organization<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Big picture view:<\/p>\n

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Police say these scammers are behind sophisticated fraud conspiracies.<\/p>\n

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“They’re professional actors,” Curulla said. “I mean, they are very organized, they’re very smart, they’re very detailed, and they literally will steal this country blind.”<\/p>\n

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The Bradenton Police Department has a dedicated Elder Fraud Unit because detectives investigate cases of senior citizen being exploited every day.<\/p>\n

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Guarding older family members<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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What you can do:<\/p>\n

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Curulla urges people to closely watch out for older family members to protect them from life-altering financial scams.<\/p>\n

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If a relative mentions a high-pressure financial request or a sudden security issue, family members should contact local police immediately to verify the claims.<\/p>\n

Read more Biden sues DOJ to block release of his audio interviews<\/a><\/p>\n

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“There is nothing you have to act today on,” Curulla said.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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