Two California men accused of posing as ICE agents and coercing victims into handing over millions of dollars in gold have been arrested after Pennsylvania police allegedly found about $215,000 in gold bars and coins concealed inside their vehicle.
Gagandeep Singh, 24, and Ajaypreet Singh, 22, both of Elk Grove, were taken into custody Sept. 10. Pennsylvania State Police stopped their vehicle on Interstate 80 in Union County and reportedly found gold hidden beneath the driver’s and passenger’s seats, as well as inside Ajaypreet Singh’s shoe, authorities said.
The traffic stop allegedly led investigators to a broader fraud scheme in which the men impersonated federal immigration officers and threatened victims with arrest unless they surrendered their gold.
Police also found an envelope containing a completed identity-theft victim complaint and affidavit belonging to Angelo Sala. In the document, Sala reported losing about $2.5 million while he was allegedly told he was the subject of an investigation by an ICE agent named Andrew Hall.
Investigators later concluded that Andrew Hall was allegedly a fictitious identity created and used by the suspects, according to an affidavit released by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Beginning in June, the suspects allegedly contacted Sala by phone and through Telegram. They told him he had to buy gold and give it to a person waiting in an out-of-state vehicle with tinted windows to avoid being arrested.
The alleged operation continued for roughly three months before the arrests. During that period, more than $1.2 million in gold bars and coins was reportedly taken from Sala and other victims who have not yet been identified, the affidavit states.
The immigration status of both suspects has also drawn attention following their arrests.
The official reports do not state their countries of citizenship. However, federal authorities issued ICE detainers for both men after they were booked into jail.
An ICE detainer asks local authorities to keep an individual in custody for up to 48 hours after the person would otherwise be released, giving immigration officials time to assume custody for possible deportation proceedings.
The records do not specifically establish that either suspect is a noncitizen. The detainers do show that federal immigration authorities are seeking custody of both men.
Gagandeep Singh and Ajaypreet Singh face several felony charges, including money laundering, conspiracy and receiving stolen property. Both remain held at Union County Jail on $500,000 cash bail each, with the ICE detainers still active.
Their preliminary hearing, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed so the men could obtain legal counsel.
