Pranavkumar Baria

Name:
Baria, Pranavkumar

Date of Booking:
08/14/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
EXPLOIT/INFLICT PAIN TO/DEPRIVE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO DISABLED PERSON, ELDER PERSON OR RESIDENT – F

TRAFFICKING A DISABLED ADULT, ELDER PERSON, OR RESIDENT – F

THEFT BY DECEPTION – F

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On 08/05/2025, I, Ofc. Grossmann and Cpl. Taylor, while on patrol in a marked unit in the unincorporated area of Chatham County, responded to a past fraud at [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Spring Marsh Circle.

Once on the scene, I spoke to the complainant, [WITNESS #1]. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated that his mother, [VICTIM #1], was scammed by a man named “Sam Billing” dating back to May 2025.

VICTIM STATEMENT

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] advised that the fraudsters claimed to be part of the Wells Fargo fraud team. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that she was first contacted by Mr. Billing’s “Wells Fargo’s Fraud Department” on 5/15/2025. When Mrs. [VICTIM #1] asked if the actual Wells Fargo had informed her if she was under investigation, she said no.

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that Mr. Billing told her that her Wells Fargo account was being hacked by two Russian hackers. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that Mr. Billing told her that to protect her finances, she had to send them money so they could hide it from the hackers (in the form of cashier’s checks and gold coins).

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that she believed Mr. Billing because of how serious Mr. Billing was and that Mr. Billing told her how bad her financial situation could be if Mrs. [VICTIM #1] did not send the money to them. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] received letters from the Office of the Inspector General which cited a fraud investigation being conducted by Sam Billing.

On 6/17/2025 she was instructed to purchase gold coins from one of three gold coin sellers in the area that would accept a check. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] determined US Coin Capitol in Hilton Head Island would accept checks. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] then purchased $390,000 worth of gold coins.

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that on 7/10/25, Mr. Billing contacted her about meeting his two associates, “David” and “Justin”, at Publix at 6 West Ridge Road, Savannah, GA 31411 at 2000 Hrs. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] advised that Mr. Billing told her to meet with his associates and give them the ninety-eight gold coins she had purchased from US Coin Capitol.

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that she drove there in her white Cadillac and met with a Black Nissan. Mr. [WITNESS #1] believes it was a Nissan Altima or Sentra. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that she was told to meet them in the back of the parking lot in an unlit area. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] described the men as having dark complexions. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] was told by Mr. Billing to ask for David and say the password “yellow”. Once she said that, Mrs. [VICTIM #1] handed the gold coins to the two men. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] advised that the black Nissan drove off in a hurry after they had possession of the gold coins.

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] advised that the fraud is still ongoing. While on scene, Mrs. [VICTIM #1] received a call from “Potential Spam”. Cpl. Taylor advised Mrs. [VICTIM #1] not to answer the phone at the moment. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] appeared scared to not answer the phone. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] advised that they are calling about the second shipment of gold coins and may want to set up another meeting. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] was advised to try to get a refund from US Coin Capitol to recoup some of her money.

TRANSACTION HISTORY

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] advised that to fund the requests from Mr. Billing, she was transferring money from her two IRA accounts to her Wells Fargo account ending in [REDACTED]. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] made transfers of $234,801, $190,000, $199,288, $130,433 from these accounts.

Sage Wealth Advisors – Account Manager: [REDACTED] – ACC# [REDACTED]. Gilder Gagnon Howe and Co. – Account Manager: David Howe – ACC# [REDACTED].

Mr. [WITNESS #1] was able to provide bank statements from Wells Fargo (ACC# [REDACTED]) showing a loss of approximately $909,687.

The dates of the withdrawals and amounts are:

• 5/21/25 – $81,327 – cashier check not found yet, but believed to be part of fraud.
• 5/28/25 – $78,710 – cashier check sent to 6900 Main St #153, Downers Grove, IL 60516 (Famful Construction LLC). Mrs. [VICTIM #1] sent the cashier’s check via UPS.
• 6/3/25 – $74,650 – cashier’s check sent to 3921 Lone Prairie Rd, Building 5, Flower Mound, TX 75028 (Eternity Construction LLC)
• 6/24/25 – $390,000 – used to purchase 98 gold coins from US Coin Capitol. (1 Corpus Christie Suite 110, Hilton Head, SC 29928)
• 8/4/25 – $285,000 – used to purchase more gold coins from US Coin Capitol.

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] kept meticulous notes on the matter. Bank statements, cashier’s checks receipts, Inspector General Fraud Memo by Mr. Billing are uploaded to Axon. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] wrote down three contact numbers for Sam Billing: [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] advised that whenever Mr. Billing called, she could hear what she believed to be the noises of a call center in the background.

I gave Mrs. [VICTIM #1] a CRN card and explained the next steps with her and Mr. [WITNESS #1]. Mr. [WITNESS #1] advised that he was in contact with the FBI office in the area. I advised both O’Hearns to utilize IC3.gov. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] notified Wells Fargo of the fraud. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] advised her bank account is still active.

[End of Narrative]