Six individuals have been arrested in connection to a $2.8 million “gold bar” rip-off in Texas that focused at the least six aged victims.
The Friendswood Police Division stated in a social media assertion that the investigation into the rip-off was launched in December 2025 after an 81-year-old resident was persuaded to transform $766,000 into 177 one-ounce Canadian Gold Maple Leaf cash.
A scammer posed as a federal worker and advised the sufferer their monetary accounts had been compromised, in line with police. The scammer then instructed the sufferer to buy gold as a way to “shield” their belongings.
As investigators seemed into the case, they later discovered {that a} comparable scheme had focused a 76-year-old resident in September 2025. On the time, the sufferer misplaced $134,000.
A Texas lady defending her house from a pair of armed invaders died on Monday, January 26, after getting right into a shootout with the masked intruders, leaving them each severely injured, in line with authorities. Houston Police haven’t recognized the 72-year-old sufferer, however courtroom data present that her title was Linda Martinez. Police have arrested (…)
Two preliminary suspects have been recognized early on within the investigation, and police decided that one suspect had pushed to the sufferer’s house to gather the gold.
Smitaben Thakor was first arrested on December 29, 2025, on a theft from an aged individual cost. Two days later, Samirali Ghabrani was arrested on December 31, 2025, and was charged with theft of property valued at $300,000 or extra.
Authorities stated that Ghabrani, 48, can be being held on an immigration detainer on the Galveston County Jail, in line with the assertion.
Following the primary two arrests, the investigation into the case expanded and detectives executed search warrants at a house in Richmond and at a restaurant in Houston.
Whereas looking the Richmond house, officers recovered 157 of the 177 gold cash that have been stolen from the 81-year-old sufferer. Authorities additionally seized proof that they consider is tied to a broader fraud operation.
Mudassir Iqbal Lakhani and Iqbal Ibrahim Lakhani have been each arrested on the Richmond residence and charged with theft of property valued at $300,000 or extra, in line with police. Each Mudassir, 35, and Iqbal, 60, have a bond set at $5 million.
On January 9, investigators executed a search warrant at a jewellery enterprise in Sharpstown. They later seized extra proof linked to the rip-off.
Police managed to get better the remaining stolen gold on February 2 at a residence in Missouri Metropolis.
One month later, officers executed one other search warrant at a house in Kingwood on Wednesday, March 4.
Police have detained a person in connection to the kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie. The Pima County Sheriff’s division, with help from the FBI, have introduced an individual in for questioning concerning the 84-year-old’s disappearance, legislation enforcement confirmed on Tuesday, February 10. “Earlier immediately, Pima County Sheriff’s Division deputies detained a topic throughout (…)
Zohaib Muhammad was then arrested on a cost of theft of property valued at $300,000 or extra and interesting in organized prison exercise, in line with police. Samir Ali was additionally arrested throughout a visitors cease close to his house on an identical cost to Muhammad, 39. Each Muhammad and Ali, who’s 36, have had their bonds set at $5 million.
Amid the investigation, police have recognized 4 extra victims who collectively misplaced about $1.9 million because of the rip-off. Police additionally stated {that a} broader investigation stays ongoing, which they consider entails connections exterior of america.
“The Friendswood Police Division’s fast and exact actions on this case replicate our unwavering dedication to defending our group, particularly our aged residents who are sometimes focused by criminals,” Police Chief Josh Rogers stated in a press release, including that native prosecutors and the FBI have been essential amid the investigation.
All six suspects are at the moment in custody. It’s not at the moment clear if any of them have entered pleas or retained authorized illustration in mild of their arrests.