Men charged with defrauding Washington County senior of $30,000 | News, Sports, Jobs

(Court Reports – Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

MARIETTA — Two Cleveland men and a Michigan resident have been charged with allegedly stealing $30,000 from an area resident in an overpayment scam.

They were among 22 people indicted this week by the Washington County Grand Jury.

Nachiket Rajendrakumar Patel, 20, and Smit Rajeshbhai Shah, 20, both of 1700 E. 13th St., Apt. E15Y, Cleveland, were charged along with Dhaval Divakar Brahmbhatt, 25, of 1791 Chester Ave., Apt. 2303, Belleville, Mich., with one count each of second-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, third-degree felony telecommunications fraud and fourth-degree felony grand larceny, according to a grand jury release.

The suspects contacted a Washington County senior and told her she needed to refund money to PayPal, Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil said.

“Two of the three gentlemen came here and picked up a shoe box containing $30,000.” She said.

That happened in July at a Watertown residence, according to the indictment. The indictment for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity mentions another theft of $30,000 from a Franklin County resident.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and was notified of a similar incident in Michigan that helped identify the suspects, Coil said.

Patel is being held in the Washington County Jail on $200,000 bail on the telecommunications fraud charge and no bail on the others.

The others are being held in Wayne County Jail in Michigan.

“We have no other victims in this area (but) we continue to find victims throughout the Great Lakes area,” said WCSO Detective Sgt. Robert McKee.

McKee said these scams are unfortunately quite common.

“If you have to give money, you’re not making any money. No government agency is going to ask you to buy gift cards or give them cash.” said.

“If you have any doubts, talk to someone else, whether it’s a friend, a family member or ourselves.” McKee said. “Don’t hesitate to call the sheriff’s office if you have any doubts about whether something is a scam. We’d rather spend five minutes with you clearing it up than have the person lose money.”

The grand jury also indicted:

* Ryan Vance Jeffrey, 43, 608 18th St., Vienna, and Amanda Mae Schmidt, 30, 208 Vernia St., East Liverpool, were each charged with one count each of aggravated trafficking in drugs, aggravated possession of drugs, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, all second-degree felonies, as of November 2023. The drug trafficking charges included specifications for forfeiture of a car, a gun, money and property, as well as a firearm specification. The trafficking in fentanyl-related compounds charges had car and firearm forfeiture specifications. Jeffrey was also charged with a third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence.

* Joseph David Knutson, 37, 430 Douglas Ave., Marietta; felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and battery, a first-degree misdemeanor, as of Aug. 1.

* Rodney D. Hill, 24, 13229 State Route 555, Cutler, third-degree felony escape in July.

* James Michael Fox Jr., 54, Marietta; felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor, from Aug. 2.

* Anya Chaneea Horsey, 33, 109 Colonial Square, Apt. A, Belpre; trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine, both fourth-degree felonies, and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, as of May.

* Larry Eugene White III, 29, Lower Salem; fourth-degree felony disorderly conduct and first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence, as of June.

* Brandon Chad West, 28, 403 Maple St., Marietta; fifth-degree felony assault and second-degree misdemeanor obstruction of official duties from July.

* Kevin Oliver Ford, 54, 27150 State Route 7, Marietta; unlawful transportation of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified government facility, a third-degree felony, and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, since January.

* Brandon S. Powell, 40, 7415 Old River Road, Philo; aggravated possession of drugs (second-degree felony), aggravated possession of drugs (third-degree felony) and identity fraud (fifth-degree felony) as of August 2022.

* James Benjamin Cline, 48, 660 Cornerville Road, Reno; third-degree felony retaliation and first-degree misdemeanor aggravated menacing as of Aug. 2.

* Tabitha Lois Church, 25, and Zale Kenneth Reed, 27, both of 319 Third St., Beverly, were charged with two third-degree felony counts each of aggravated trafficking in drugs, one second-degree felony count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, two fifth-degree felony counts of aggravated possession of drugs, one third-degree felony count of aggravated possession of drugs and two first-degree misdemeanor counts of child endangerment dating back to February.

* Austin Michael Matthews, 22, 49 Thorn St., Parkersburg; fifth-degree felony robbery, April.

* Ashley Nicole Henthorne, 37, 2402 Norris Ave., Belpre; fifth-degree felony and first-degree misdemeanor charges of theft and misuse of credit cards from February.

* Jill Kristin Bolden, 43, and Charles McCarty, age not listed, both of 2814 Blennerhassett Ave., Belpre, were each charged with one count of fifth-degree felony receiving stolen property from February. Bolden also was charged with one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony also from February.

* Andrea Theresa Walke, 41, 5791 State Route 60, Marietta; theft from a person of a protected class (elderly), a fifth-degree felony, and littering, a third-degree misdemeanor, from June.

Evan Bevins can be reached at [email protected]

Douglass Huxley can be reached at [email protected]