Gold sting operation leads Friendswood Police investigators to California, resulting in arrests totaling $15 Million in bonds
The Friendswood Police Department has arrested three suspects in connection with an organized gold scam targeting an elderly Friendswood resident. The Friendswood investigation led investigators into identifying two additional suspects in California. Both were arrested on Galveston County warrants with a combined $15 million in bonds.
In August 2026, an elderly Friendswood resident contacted police after becoming suspicious that he was the target of a scam. Investigators learned that individuals posing as federal authorities had been communicating with the victim attempting to convince him to convert a large sum of money into gold.
Friendswood investigators immediately began working with the victim and on August 25, 2026, investigators coordinated a planned gold transaction with the suspect, later identified as Sukhvinder Singh, 39, of Lathrop, California.
Police investigators followed Singh to the planned transaction and then to a FedEx location inside a Walmart in Pearland, where packages containing the gold were prepared for shipment. Singh was arrested by Friendswood officers as he exited the store.
On August 25, 2026, Singh was charged in Galveston County with Theft Over $300,000 and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity. His bond was set at $1 million. Singh is also being held on a federal immigration detainer.
Even after Singh’s arrest, the victim continued to receive telephone calls from members of the criminal organization. Using caller ID spoofing technology, the suspects made the calls appear to originate from the Friendswood Police Department and falsely represented themselves as law enforcement officers. The suspects went so far as to impersonate the detective actively assigned to the victim’s case in an attempt to manipulate and further defraud the victim.
Following Singh’s arrest, Friendswood investigators continued examining evidence and ultimately identified two additional suspects who they believe played significant leadership roles in coordinating, funding, and laundering the proceeds from this criminal operation.
Investigators obtained Galveston County warrants charging Daman Preet Singh, 35, of Riverside, California, and Mandeep Singh, 40, of Los Angeles, California, with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity. The bond for Daman Preet Singh was set at $10 million, while Mandeep Singh’s bond was set at $5 million.
On September 9, 2026, Friendswood Police investigators traveled to California and with the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, arrested Daman Preet Singh as he left his residence. Investigators also executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered evidence believed to be connected to the criminal operation.
On September 10, 2026, Friendswood investigators located Mandeep Singh in Los Angeles. With assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division, Mandeep Singh was arrested at his residence.
Daman Preet Singh and Mandeep Singh remain in custody in California pending extradition to Galveston County, Texas.
This is not the first large-scale gold scam investigation conducted by the Friendswood Police Department.
In March 2026, the department announced the arrests of six individuals in connection with an organized gold scam linked to approximately $2.8 million in losses involving elderly victims across Texas. That investigation began after an 81-year-old Friendswood resident was persuaded to convert approximately $766,000 into 177 one-ounce Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins.
During that investigation, Friendswood detectives recovered all 177 gold coins belonging to the Friendswood victim and identified additional elderly victims in Humble, Cypress, Cleburne, and New Braunfels. Six suspects were ultimately arrested as Friendswood investigators executed multiple search warrants and worked to identify individuals involved in collecting and laundering proceeds from the scheme.
The current investigation demonstrates the continued use of similar methods by organized criminal groups targeting elderly victims. Scammers frequently impersonate federal agents, law enforcement officers, bank investigators, or representatives of legitimate companies and convince victims that their financial accounts have been compromised or that their money is in danger. Victims are then instructed to convert their savings into gold or other assets before couriers are sent to collect them.
“The Friendswood Police Department will continue to investigate these criminals who are destroying the lives of our most vulnerable population, and we will do everything in our power to identify and arrest the individuals responsible, regardless of location,” said Police Chief Josh Rogers. “Our victim in this case immediately reported this scam to us and we were able to have a successful outcome, but many times it does not end this well.”
The Department also recognizes the continued cooperation and assistance of its federal law enforcement partners and the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office in investigating and prosecuting these complex cases.
“The professionalism, time, and effort that we were shown while in California was truly remarkable. The support we received from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Office Major Crimes Unit and the LAPD Foothill Division went far beyond what we could have asked for. We are incredibly grateful for their assistance and the way they welcomed and supported the Friendswood Police Department,” said Chief Josh Rogers.
Friendswood Police encourage residents to speak with elderly family members, friends, and neighbors about these types of scams. Legitimate law enforcement agencies and government officials will not instruct individuals to convert money into gold, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other assets for safekeeping or to avoid arrest.
Anyone who believes they or someone they know may be the target of a similar scam should stop communicating with the suspected scammers and immediately contact their local law enforcement agency.
