A man who was involved in a large fraud ring has been sentenced to 45 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 18 years. Anil Kumar was convicted by a jury for Exploitation of an Elderly Person and Attempt to Obtain Money Under False Pretense against an Older Person.

Kumar, a co-defendant, and several unknown individuals targeted a senior woman through an extensive phone scam, where they ended up stealing more than half a million dollars. The scam began with the victim receiving a false text from an online retailer, claiming an unauthorized purchase, and a link she could click. Once that link was opened, the woman provided her cell phone number, and members of the fraud ring called, claiming to be law enforcement. They convinced the victim that she was under investigation and coerced her into providing cash and gold through three separate instances to “couriers.”

Chief Deputy District Attorney Amos Stege argued the case on behalf of trial attorney Deputy District Attorney Yu Meng for 60 years in prison for Kumar, citing that the crime was committed by an organized crime group, targeted multiple victims, and resulting in devastating impacts to the victim.  The Honorable David Hardy presided and imposed the sentence.

Members of the Reno Police Department, Truckee Police Department, and U.S. Secret Service conducted an operation to try and catch some of the members of the fraud ring, and subsequently arrested Kumar and Amit Bhanwala-Singh. In addition to their prison sentences, both men have also been ordered to pay restitution in the sum of around $485,000 each.

Audio of Kumar sentencing release