Arrest Made After Scammer Gets Tompkins County Victim to Pay $500K in Gold Bars

State Police have announced an arrest has been made following over a year-long investigation by the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Division in Tompkins County. Law enforcement have arrested 41 year old Akash B. Thakkar of Hiawatha, New Jersey. He is facing a charge of Grand Larceny in the 2nd, a Felony.

Back in June 2024, a victim was coerced into giving scammers $250,000 in gold bars and then another $250,000 in gold bars two months later, State Police say. In total, the scammers stole $500,000 in gold bars from the victim.

Investigators with the State Police were able to identify Thakkar as the man who picked up the gold bars in August. Last month, on September 24th, the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office brought the case in front of a Grand Jury, who indicted Thakkar on the grand larceny charge.

A warrant was issued following the indictment. Thakkar was processed at the State Police Barracks in Ithaca and then turned over to the Tompkins County Jail for Centralized Arraignment. He was released the following day, October 9th.

“New York State Police are reminding the public to please talk with loved ones, friends and neighbors about phone scams that tell a victim to withdraw large sums of money or buy gold bars to “protect their assets”. Victims are typically senior citizens.” State Police say.