New Jersey Man Accused of Orchestrating $250M Gold Theft Ring Caught at JFK
A New Jersey resident has been arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport while attempting to flee the country after being accused of orchestrating a massive gold theft operation.
Muzamil Ahmed, 35, was taken into custody as he prepared to board a flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and has been extradited to Texas where he faces charges of engaging in organized crime for theft, financial abuse of the elderly, and money laundering.
The operation, which affected seniors across the nation, involved directing victims to withdraw savings and purchase gold bars or cryptocurrency before couriers posing as federal agents collected the assets.
More than 40 people have been indicted in connection with the scheme, which funneled stolen gold to a refinery in Florida for melting and conversion into cryptocurrency sent overseas. The total losses exceeded $250 million, with one victim reportedly losing $2 million.