Fraudsters posing as gov officials charged with swindling N.H., Maine residents

PORTLAND, Maine - Two New Jersey men have been indicted for conspiring to commit wire fraud for their roles in an alleged multistate scheme to defraud and obtain money and other property from victims by posing as government officials.

As alleged in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Thursday, beginning in March 2023, Bharat Awasarmol and Prakashkumar Prajapati were involved in a conspiracy and scheme to defraud seven victims in five states, including Maine. As part of the scheme, victims received telephone calls from individuals posing as government officials.

These imposters fraudulently instructed victims to withdraw cash and purchase gold to turn over to the government for safekeeping. The callers then arranged for victims to meet fake government agents to hand over the cash and gold.

Awasarmol was intercepted when he was caught accepting a package from a victim in Maine. The Maine victim had been instructed to meet Awasarmol and turn over gold by an individual posing as an employee of the Federal Trade Commission. Awasarmol allegedly accepted cash and gold from six additional victims in New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia.

In furtherance of the conspiracy and scheme to defraud, Prajapati directed Awasarmol to meet the victims, and provided him with instructions and locations to meet victims.

The superseding indictment also alleges that Awasarmol made false statements to an FBI agent regarding his role in the scheme.

If convicted, Prajapati and Awasarmol face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the wire fraud conspiracy charge. Awasarmol also faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the false statement charge.

The FBI is investigating the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law.