Show-Me State Times

Five individuals have pleaded guilty to participating in a wire fraud conspiracy that targeted elderly victims across ten states, stealing millions of dollars through a tech support scam, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Dariona Lambert, 23; Zhamoniq Stevens, 24; Chintankumar Parekh, 52; Mehulkumar Darji, 42; and Sital Singh, 43, each admitted in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The most recent plea was entered by Darji on Friday morning.

Authorities said the scheme originated overseas. Scammers contacted elderly victims via phone calls and electronic messages and falsely claimed their savings and retirement accounts had been compromised. Victims were told to transfer funds for protection, often through the purchase of gold bars or coins. Couriers would collect the gold at the direction of overseas conspirators.

Lambert and Stevens acknowledged serving as couriers in this operation. According to prosecutors, they were managed by Darji, Parekh, and Singh—referred to as “handlers”—who collected the gold from couriers and paid them in cash.

“The government believes that the overseas scammers netted $9.3 million from victims,” according to statements released by officials.

One incident involved an 82-year-old woman from St. Louis who was told by scammers pretending to be computer software support staff that her financial accounts were at risk. She was instructed to transfer money into new accounts and buy about $250,000 worth of gold bars. Lambert flew from Gainesville, Florida, to St. Louis on May 1, 2024; Parekh rented a car and drove Lambert near the victim’s home before she switched vehicles for final delivery. Law enforcement intercepted Lambert upon arrival at the victim’s residence. After being notified by Lambert about her apprehension, Parekh fled to Pittsburgh.

Parekh admitted involvement as a handler in similar pickups from Yuma and Scottsdale (Arizona); Placentia and La Jolla (California); Largo (Florida); Chapel Hill (North Carolina); and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania). Singh acted as a handler in Collierville (Tennessee), Universal City (Texas), and Greendale (Wisconsin). Darji handled pickups in Scottsdale, Largo, and La Jolla—including receiving three FedEx packages containing gold bars sent by a victim in Largo.

Lambert worked as a courier in several locations: Scottsdale; Placentia; La Jolla; Largo; Universal City; Hanover (Massachusetts); and Erie (Pennsylvania). Stevens operated as a courier collecting gold from victims in Yuma; La Jolla; Collierville; Largo; Greendale; Oxnard (California); Long Island (New York); and Cincinnati (Ohio).

Parekh overstayed his work visa while Darji had previously been removed from the United States in 2014 but returned unlawfully.

Sentencing hearings are scheduled for November for Lambert, Stevens, and Parekh. Singh will be sentenced December 3rd while Darji’s sentencing is set for December 22nd.

A conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries up to thirty years imprisonment or a fine of up to $1 million—or both.

The case was investigated by FBI agents along with Homeland Security Investigations based in Tampa, Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the matter.

Officials urge anyone who suspects someone has been victimized by cyber scams to report it online through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.