A man convicted for his role in a large fraud ring that stole more than $500,000 from a senior has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.
The Washoe County District Attorney's Office says Anil Kumar was convicted on charges of exploitation of an elderly person and attempting to obtain money under false pretenses against an older person.
Investigators say the fraud ring targeted the woman through an elaborate phone scam. It began with a fake text claiming there had been an unauthorized purchase from an online retailer.
After the woman clicked a link in the text and provided her phone number, members of the fraud ring called her, claiming to be law enforcement.
They convinced her she was under investigation and pressured her into turning over cash and gold to couriers on three separate occasions. The total loss was more than $500,000.
Judge David Hardy sentenced Kumar to 45 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 18 years.
The Reno Police Department, Truckee Police Department and U.S. Secret Service worked together in an operation targeting members of the fraud ring. Kumar and co-defendant Amit Bhanwala-Singh were arrested.
In addition to their prison sentences, both men have also been ordered to pay restitution in the sum of around $485,000 each.
