Friendswood Gold Scam Investigation Leads to Second Arrest, More Than $750,000 in Gold, Silver and Cash Recovered
The Friendswood Police Department’s ongoing investigation into an organized gold scam targeting elderly victims has resulted in another arrest and the recovery of more than $750,000 in gold, silver, and cash through multiple search warrants connected to the investigation.
On Saturday, October 3, 2026, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Friendswood Police Department investigators executed a Galveston County arrest warrant and a Fort Bend County search warrant at a residence in the 13900 block of Manobrook Court in Richmond.
At the residence, Friendswood Police investigators arrested Suchit Patel for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity; Theft less than $300,000, a first-degree felony. Patel’s bond was set at $10 million and an immigration detainer has been placed on him.
During the search, investigators recovered approximately $401,565.40 in gold, silver, and cash. Investigators have now recovered more than $750,000 in monetary assets through the recent search warrants and are working to identify the victims associated with the recovered property.
This investigation stemmed from the September 15, 2026, report involving an elderly Friendswood resident who was deceived by a suspect posing as a federal agent. The victim was convinced to provide $25,000 in gift cards and convert approximately $185,000 of her savings into gold bars. The gold was later turned over to a courier as part of the scheme.
Friendswood investigators quickly identified the courier as Rajdeep Singh, 27, of California. On September 16, 2026, Friendswood Police, with assistance from the Meadows Place Police Department, located Singh in Fort Bend County and took him into custody which ultimately led investigators to Patel.
“These criminals are stealing the life savings of elderly members of our community, and we are committed to finding everyone involved,” said Friendswood Police Chief Josh Rogers. “The quick work of our investigators and our partnership with the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office has allowed us to recover a significant amount of stolen property before it disappeared. We still have work to do to identify all of the rightful owners of the property we recovered, and we remain committed to our victims and to holding those responsible accountable.”
The Friendswood Police Department believes that Patel is connected to multiple victims in the Houston area. If you recognize this car or have any information on Patel, please contact the Friendswood Police Department at 281-996-3300.
Anyone who receives a similar call or believes they may have been victimized should immediately stop communicating with the caller and contact their local law enforcement agency.
The Friendswood Police Department again urges residents to speak with elderly family members, friends, and neighbors about these schemes. Legitimate law enforcement agencies, federal agencies, and financial institutions will never instruct someone to purchase gold, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other assets to protect their money or avoid arrest.
Friendswood Gold Scam Investigation Leads to Second Arrest, More Than $750,000 in Gold, Silver and Cash Recovered \n\nThe Friendswood Police Department\u2019s ongoing investigation into an organized gold scam targeting elderly victims has resulted in another arrest and the recovery of more than $750,000 in gold, silver, and cash through multiple search warrants connected to the investigation.\n\nOn Saturday, October 3, 2026, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Friendswood Police Department investigators executed a Galveston County arrest warrant and a Fort Bend County search warrant at a residence in the 13900 block of Manobrook Court in Richmond. \n\nAt the residence, Friendswood Police investigators arrested Suchit Patel for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity; Theft less than $300,000, a first-degree felony. Patel\u2019s bond was set at $10 million and an immigration detainer has been placed on him.\n\nDuring the search, investigators recovered approximately $401,565.40 in gold, silver, and cash. Investigators have now recovered more than $750,000 in monetary assets through the recent search warrants and are working to identify the victims associated with the recovered property.\n\nThis investigation stemmed from the September 15, 2026, report involving an elderly Friendswood resident who was deceived by a suspect posing as a federal agent. The victim was convinced to provide $25,000 in gift cards and convert approximately $185,000 of her savings into gold bars. The gold was later turned over to a courier as part of the scheme. \n\nFriendswood investigators quickly identified the courier as Rajdeep Singh, 27, of California. On September 16, 2026, Friendswood Police, with assistance from the Meadows Place Police Department, located Singh in Fort Bend County and took him into custody which ultimately led investigators to Patel. \n\n\u201cThese criminals are stealing the life savings of elderly members of our community, and we are committed to finding everyone involved,\u201d said Friendswood Police Chief Josh Rogers. \u201cThe quick work of our investigators and our partnership with the Galveston County District Attorney\u2019s Office has allowed us to recover a significant amount of stolen property before it disappeared. We still have work to do to identify all of the rightful owners of the property we recovered, and we remain committed to our victims and to holding those responsible accountable.\u201d\n\nThe Friendswood Police Department believes that Patel is connected to multiple victims in the Houston area. If you recognize this car or have any information on Patel, please contact the Friendswood Police Department at 281-996-3300.\n\nAnyone who receives a similar call or believes they may have been victimized should immediately stop communicating with the caller and contact their local law enforcement agency.\n\nThe Friendswood Police Department again urges residents to speak with elderly family members, friends, and neighbors about these schemes. Legitimate law enforcement agencies, federal agencies, and financial institutions will never instruct someone to purchase gold, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other assets to protect their money or avoid arrest.”},”save_info”:{“viewer_save_state”:”NOT_SAVED
