WASHINGTON/TORONTO — A review of publicly announced criminal cases in the United States and Canada during 2026 shows a wide range of cases involving Indian nationals and people of Indian origin — from fraud, immigration and money laundering to drug trafficking, extortion, weapons offences and child sexual-abuse material.
The cases do not establish that Indian immigrants or the Indian-origin community as a whole are disproportionately involved in crime. They do, however, provide a documented picture of individual criminal cases that have reached police investigations, federal prosecutions, guilty pleas, convictions, sentences and deportation proceedings in North America during 2026.
More importantly, a number of the cases have an international dimension, with investigators describing criminal networks operating across the United States, Canada and India. That cross-border element has become particularly visible in fraud, immigration fraud, drug trafficking and extortion investigations.
There is no single official 2026 number
The first question is deceptively simple: How many Indian-origin people have been arrested, charged, convicted or sentenced in the United States and Canada in 2026?The answer is that no reliable government database currently provides that exact number.U.S. federal prosecutors generally identify defendants by nationality when it is relevant to a case, while American criminal statistics are not organized as a comprehensive “Indian-origin crime” database. Canada likewise does not publish a national criminal statistic identifying offenders by Indian ancestry.
Consequently, any claim that “X Indians committed crimes in America and Canada in 2026” would require combining thousands of local police, state, provincial and federal records — and would still have major definitional problems.What can be established is that numerous cases involving Indian nationals or Indian-origin suspects have been publicly announced by authorities during 2026.
United States: fraud and financial crimes prominent
One of the most striking recent cases is that of Roshan Shah, a 22-year-old Indian national.The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that Shah was sentenced on July 27, 2026, to 48 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.According to prosecutors, Shah was studying in Canada on a student visa and entered the United States on a visitor visa to collect money and valuables obtained through a nationwide fraud scheme. His alleged co-conspirators in India contacted victims, many of them elderly, falsely claiming that their identities had been used in criminal activity. Victims were then instructed to hand over cash or gold to a supposed federal agent.
Authorities said Shah posed as that agent and collected more than $3.7 million from 15 victims across the United States. He was arrested in New Berlin, Wisconsin, while attempting another collection.The case is significant not simply because of the amount involved, but because it demonstrates the international structure of some modern fraud operations: callers overseas, victims in the United States and couriers physically collecting money on American soil.Another Indian national sentenced for a multimillion-dollar fraudIn April, Dhananjay Singh, 35, an Indian national, was sentenced in New Jersey to 41 months in federal prison.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Singh was the leader of a conspiracy that defrauded telephone providers and insurance companies of millions of dollars worth of merchandise. The operation allegedly used stolen or fabricated identities to submit fraudulent claims for replacement cellular devices, which were subsequently resold outside the United States.Singh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit interstate transfer of stolen property.
Tech-support fraud targeting elderly Americans
Another major federal case involved Kartik Saini, who was sentenced in July 2026 to more than six years in federal prison for his role in a technology-support fraud operation.The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois said Saini and co-conspirators operating while he was in India falsely represented themselves as technology or security employees of companies such as Google, Apple and Citibank.Victims were allegedly told that their computers or bank accounts had been compromised and were persuaded to transfer large amounts of money supposedly for protection while an investigation took place.The victims were senior citizens in the United States.The case illustrates another important feature of transnational fraud: the criminal operation does not necessarily have to be physically located in the country where the victims live.
Indian national sentenced for illegal gambling and money laundering
In Missouri, Tushar R. Patel, an Indian national, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to charges arising from a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy.According to the IRS Criminal Investigation division, Patel admitted involvement in wire fraud, operating an illegal gambling business and money laundering. Investigators said the operation generated approximately $9.5 million in gross proceeds from wire fraud and illegal gambling businesses.Patel had originally been charged along with eight other individuals in a 72-count superseding indictment.
Counterfeit cancer drugs
Another case raised an even more serious public-health concern.Sanjay Kumar, an Indian national, was sentenced in March 2026 for his role in a conspiracy involving counterfeit oncology pharmaceuticals.The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas said Kumar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods after being involved in selling tens of thousands of dollars worth of counterfeit cancer drugs in the United States.The case demonstrates that the criminal risks associated with transnational networks are not limited to financial losses. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals can potentially place patients’ lives at risk.
Sexual-assault conviction and child sexual-abuse material cases
The 2026 federal record also includes serious sexual offences involving Indian nationals.In January, a federal jury convicted an Indian national in Virginia of abusive sexual contact and assault arising from an incident aboard an aircraft.In July, another Indian national was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for transportation and possession of child sexual-abuse material, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.These cases must be treated separately from immigration or financial crimes because they involve entirely different categories of alleged or proven criminal conduct.
Gun possession
On July 9, 2026, Harshpreet Singh, 25, an Indian national who was unlawfully present in the United States, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm while unlawfully present in the country.The case was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Visa fraud and staged robberies
Immigration fraud has also become a significant part of the 2026 U.S. case record.In March, federal authorities announced charges against 11 Indian nationals in connection with a visa-fraud conspiracy involving staged armed robberies.According to U.S. authorities, the scheme involved fabricating criminal incidents so that individuals could falsely claim to have been victims of violent crimes and use those claims in applications for U visas.USCIS later reported that 10 Indian nationals were indicted in the conspiracy. The government’s announcement also noted that the alleged organizer, the supposed robber and a getaway driver had previously been convicted in May 2025.One defendant, Mitul Patel, 40, subsequently pleaded guilty. In July 2026, he was sentenced to one day in prison, fined $1,000 and ordered removed from the United States.This case is particularly important because it involves immigration benefits, staged criminal activity and multiple Indian nationals allegedly participating in the same conspiracy.
Indian national arrested in Hawaii in elder-fraud case
The list of 2026 cases is not limited to convictions.On July 20, Harsh Fojalal Shah, 25, an Indian national, was arrested in Honolulu and charged by criminal complaint for his alleged role in a conspiracy involving a gold-bar fraud scheme targeting elderly victims.The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that the allegations remain allegations unless and until proven in court.That distinction is essential: an arrest or criminal charge is not a conviction.
Smuggling across the U.S.-Canada border
Another federal case illustrates the geographic reach of the problem.In February 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York announced the indictment of an Indian national for allegedly smuggling people across the Canadian border into the United States.Such cases demonstrate why American and Canadian authorities increasingly investigate criminal activity as a North American rather than purely national problem.
Canada: Extortion networks become a major focus
Perhaps the most significant 2026 Canadian development involving people of Indian origin has been the crackdown on violent extortion networks targeting South Asian communities.On May 25, Peel Regional Police announced the arrest of 17 individuals, with the majority described as having ties to an international criminal network known as “For Brothers.”Police said the network targeted South Asian business owners and community members in Peel Region, elsewhere in Canada and in the United States.The investigation involved allegations of intimidation, threats and escalating violence.
The significance of this investigation goes beyond the number of arrests.
Police said the criminal network was international. The investigation involved law-enforcement partners across jurisdictions, demonstrating how criminal groups can operate through multiple countries and exploit personal, family and business connections across borders.The appropriate description, therefore, is not that “17 Indians were convicted.” They were arrested and charged in connection with an investigation, and the charges must be resolved through the Canadian courts.
Drug trafficking at the U.S.-Canada border
In February, the Canada Border Services Agency announced the seizure of approximately 266 kilograms of methamphetamine at the Blue Water Bridge.CBSA said Kulbir Singh, 29, of Woodstock, Ontario, was arrested and transferred to the RCMP. He was charged with importation of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.The case remains before the Ontario Court of Justice, and the charges are subject to court validation.Again, the distinction between an allegation and a conviction is crucial.
Immigration fraud in Ontario
In another Canadian case, CBSA announced in July that two individuals had been charged in an immigration-fraud investigation involving international students.Authorities said the victims were allegedly promised that their money would be used to pay tuition, but they were provided fraudulent enrollment documents and were not enrolled in the promised programs.CBSA said the investigation resulted in 12 criminal charges: four counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of uttering forged documents and four counts of counselling misrepresentation under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.One accused identified by authorities was Hardik Dave of Cambridge, Ontario, who was scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice.
Immigration misrepresentation and forged documents
Canadian authorities have also intensified investigations into immigration fraud and document offences.In March, the RCMP announced charges following a CBSA investigation that uncovered forged Canadian passports, equipment allegedly associated with producing fraudulent documents, approximately $24,000 in Canadian and U.S. currency and about 84 credit, debit and gift cards.Three Canadian residents were charged in that investigation.The case is another reminder that immigration-related fraud can involve document production, financial crimes and identity-related offences simultaneously.
Canada is also removing foreign nationals linked to organized crime
The Canadian government has made clear that foreign nationals involved in serious criminality and organized crime are a priority for removal.CBSA states that its removal priorities include foreign nationals who pose serious threats because of serious criminal offences or involvement in organized crime.In March 2026, CBSA reported that, as of March 12, it had opened 372 immigration investigations, issued 70 removal orders for various inadmissibility grounds and enforced 35 removals in connection with its broader work against extortion networks.Those numbers, however, are not Indian-specific figures. They should not be presented as such.
What does the 2026 record actually show?
When the publicly announced cases are placed together, several patterns emerge.First, fraud is a major category. The American cases include elder fraud, technology-support fraud, telephone and insurance fraud, money laundering, gambling-related fraud and immigration fraud.Second, transnational operations are repeatedly appearing in investigations. In several cases, alleged or convicted participants had links to India while victims or other participants were located in North America.Third, Canada’s extortion crisis has become an important law-enforcement priority, particularly where South Asian business owners have been targeted.
Fourth, drug trafficking and border smuggling remain significant concerns. The methamphetamine case in Ontario and the U.S. case involving alleged human smuggling demonstrate the importance of the U.S.-Canada border to organized-crime investigations.Fifth, the 2026 cases include serious violent and sexual offences, including firearm possession, sexual assault and child sexual-abuse material. These cases are distinct from the financial and immigration-fraud cases and should not be lumped together into one category.
Arrest is not conviction — an important warning
There is a serious danger in compiling a list of criminal cases involving a particular ethnic or national group.A person arrested has not necessarily been found guilty.A person charged has not necessarily been convicted.A person who pleads guilty has admitted criminal responsibility for the offence to which the plea applies.A person convicted after trial has been found guilty by a court.A person sentenced has reached the punishment stage following a conviction or guilty plea.The distinction is particularly important in the Canadian cases, where several 2026 investigations are still proceeding through the courts.
The bigger issue: transnational criminal networks
The most important story emerging from these cases is arguably not ethnicity but the internationalization of organized crime.
Modern criminal networks can recruit people in one country, target victims in another, move money through a third jurisdiction and use legitimate immigration or education channels as cover.
The Roshan Shah case is a particularly clear example: prosecutors said an Indian national studying in Canada entered the United States to collect fraud proceeds generated by a network whose other members were in India.
The Canadian extortion investigation similarly involved criminal activity extending beyond one province and involving connections to the United States and India.
That is why law-enforcement agencies increasingly need intelligence sharing between the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, CBSA, RCMP, provincial police and local U.S. departments.
The uncomfortable question for governments
The growing number of publicly announced cases raises an important policy question for both countries:
Are immigration, student-visa and visitor-visa screening systems adequately equipped to identify individuals who may become involved in organized criminal activity after arrival?
That question should not be answered by blaming an entire community.
But neither should governments ignore documented cases simply because they are politically uncomfortable.
The United States and Canada have large, successful and overwhelmingly law-abiding Indian-origin communities that contribute enormously to both countries. Criminal cases involving individual Indian nationals or people of Indian origin should never be used to stigmatize millions of innocent people.
At the same time, citizenship, ethnicity or immigration status cannot become a shield against investigation.
The proper standard must be the same for everyone: investigate credible allegations, prosecute evidence-based cases, protect victims, punish those convicted and remove non-citizens when immigration law requires it.
The 2026 snapshot
Based on publicly announced cases located in this review, the 2026 record already includes:
United States
11 Indian nationals charged in a visa-fraud conspiracy, with subsequent federal proceedings involving individual defendants.
Roshan Shah — 48-month federal sentence for money-laundering conspiracy involving more than $3.7 million allegedly collected from 15 victims.
Dhananjay Singh — 41-month sentence for a telecommunications/insurance fraud conspiracy.
Kartik Saini — more than six years for a tech-support fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans.
Tushar R. Patel — guilty plea in a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling, wire-fraud and money-laundering conspiracy.
Sanjay Kumar — federal sentence for conspiracy involving counterfeit cancer drugs.
Harshpreet Singh — 23 months for unlawful firearm possession.
An Indian national convicted of abusive sexual contact and assault aboard an aircraft.
An Indian national sentenced to 121 months for transportation and possession of child sexual-abuse material.
Harsh Fojalal Shah — arrested in Hawaii in an alleged elder-fraud/gold-bar scheme; the case remains an allegation unless proven in court.
Mitul Patel — sentenced to one day, fined $1,000 and ordered removed following his guilty plea in the staged-robbery visa-fraud conspiracy.
Canada
17 individuals arrested in the Peel extortion investigation, with the majority having ties to an international criminal network targeting South Asian communities.
Kulbir Singh — arrested and charged following the seizure of approximately 266 kg of methamphetamine; case pending.
Hardik Dave and another accused — charged with 12 offences in an immigration-fraud investigation involving international students.
Three Canadian residents charged following the seizure of forged passports, currency and payment cards.
Canadian authorities reported hundreds of broader immigration investigations and dozens of removal orders connected to work targeting extortion and organized criminality, although these figures are not specific to Indians.
A record that demands facts, not stereotypes
The 2026 record is substantial enough to warrant serious examination, particularly where cases involve organized networks operating across India, Canada and the United States.
But the strongest conclusion is not that an entire nationality or ethnic community is responsible for crime. The evidence does not support such a sweeping claim.
The stronger conclusion is that North American law enforcement is confronting a growing category of transnational criminal activity in which some Indian nationals and Indian-origin individuals have appeared as suspects, defendants or convicted offenders.
The answer must therefore be better intelligence sharing, stronger investigation of organized crime, careful immigration screening, faster prosecution of proven offences and meaningful punishment for those convicted.
For the millions of law-abiding Indian-origin residents in the United States and Canada, that distinction matters.
And for governments, the responsibility is equally clear: protect the innocent community without protecting the criminal.