Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

State Police Detectives Arrest New York Man for Felony Theft in Joint Investigation with FBI

Date Posted: Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

News Release

Delaware State Police detectives arrested 35-year-old Rakeshkumar Patel of Flushing, New York, for felony theft following a joint financial crimes investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In February of 2024, a Millsboro woman contacted Delaware State Police to report that she was the victim of a scam. During a joint investigation with the FBI, detectives learned that starting in October of 2023, a suspect had impersonated a federal agent and convinced the victim that she needed to convert money to gold. He told her to give it to him for transport to the U.S. Treasury for safe keeping. Through investigative means, detectives identified Rakeshkumar Patel as one of the suspects involved in the scam. The joint investigation is ongoing as detectives are working to identify other suspects.

On May 20, 2024, Patel was arrested near Millsboro and taken to Troop 4. He was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $103,000 cash bond.

Rakeshkumar Patel

Theft over $100,000 (Felony)
Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)

Detectives are asking anyone who may have been defrauded in a similar manner to please contact the Financial Crimes Unit by calling Troop 2 for New Castle County at 302-834-2620, Troop 3 for Kent County at 302-697-4454, and Troop 4 for Sussex County at 302-856-5850. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333. In addition to contacting the Delaware State Police, victims are also encouraged to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.