Fourth Runner Sentenced in Houston for Collecting Cash From "Federal Agent" Call Center Scam

The bottom line: runners who collect cash from phone scam victims receive real prison time, and sentences increase with their role.

The scheme

According to the DOJ, between December 2019 and July 2020, Pinjara worked as a "runner" for an India-based call center scam. Callers in India contacted people in the United States to extort money. Pinjara used aliases and fake identification documents to pick up parcels of cash that victims had mailed.

A common script convinced victims that federal agents were investigating them. The "agent" said the only way to clear their name was to ship cash by FedEx to a name and address the caller provided. Runners then collected the parcels.

The DOJ added that hundreds of victims across the country were identified, with millions of dollars in losses.

The sentences

Pinjara pleaded guilty to conspiracy on November 30, 2021. U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen imposed the 29-month sentence. Pinjara was expected to face removal proceedings after prison.

Three other runners in the same conspiracy had already been sentenced:

• Viral Gandhi, 33, an Indian citizen illegally residing in the United States: 27 months.
• Burhan Syed, 33, an Indian citizen illegally residing in the United States: 41 months.
• Myisha Carter, 33, of Houston: 71 months, followed by three years of supervised release.

All were ordered to pay restitution. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General investigated, with help from the Houston Police Department and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

Why it matters

This conspiracy used a script built on fear of a federal investigation. The domestic runners made the scheme profitable. Prosecutors in Houston have now sentenced several of them, with terms from 27 to 71 months.

For legitimate businesses, these cases explain why consumers are suspicious of calls that mention investigations, and why carriers and regulators push to stop impostor traffic.

What this means for you

1. Never claim or imply that a consumer is under investigation.
2. Never ask for cash shipped by parcel.
3. If you operate shipping or retail pickup locations, watch for repeated cash parcels collected under aliases.
4. Support traceback and call blocking efforts aimed at impostor calls.

The script began with a phone call. The case ended with prison terms for the people who collected the money.