Western Mass Man Admits To Money Laundering Scheme

A man from Western Massachusetts has admitted to his involvement in a scheme to launder more than $1 million in proceeds from phone scams.

Nicole Valinote

04/27/2022 12:15 p.m.

Hampden County resident Utkarsh Thakur, age 29, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy on Monday, April 25, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

The US Attorney's Office reported that Thakur's co-conspirators called victims between January and August 2021 and pretended to be in positions of authority, such as law enforcement.

They would reportedly threaten the victims and instruct them to mail cash to addresses in Massachusetts.

Thakur obtained fake identification cards for the fake names used by the co-conspirators and retrieved the funds the victims set, the US Attorney's Office said.

He then transported the money to the co-conspirators, the report said.

The US Attorney's Office said Thakur laundered more than $1 million in victim funds in total.

His sentencing is set for Sept. 14, according to the announcement.

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