Ravinklejeet Mathon, a 26-year-old from Rockville, has been sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of probation for his involvement in a phone scam targeting a 94-year-old man. The scam led to the theft of three gold bars worth over $229,000, as part of an international organized crime operation.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Margaret Schweitzer handed down the sentence, which includes a 10-year prison term with all but five years suspended. Mathon will also serve five years of probation after his release. In October, he pleaded guilty to attempted theft over $100,000 and conspiracy to commit theft over $100,000. The Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines for such cases typically recommend probation or up to one year in prison.
The scam involved convincing the elderly victim from Silver Spring to convert his life savings into gold bars, under the false pretense of handing them over to “federal agents” for safekeeping. Authorities believe this scheme is part of a larger international organized crime network. Similar scams involving gold bars have been reported both in Montgomery County and across the country.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy highlighted the challenges posed by such cases, noting that Maryland’s sentencing guidelines for non-violent, white-collar crimes are generally low and not designed for complex crimes of this scale. He emphasized the vulnerability of the victim due to his advanced age. McCarthy also thanked the Montgomery County Police Financial Crimes Section and the prosecuting attorneys for their efforts in securing justice in this case.