$200,000 WORTH OF STOLEN GOLD BARS RECOVERED DURING 20A TRAFFIC STOP
From the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department,
On July 25, 2023, a Wyoming County Deputy Sheriff conducted a traffic stop on State Route 20A near Toolhouse Road in the Town of Warsaw for traffic infractions. During roadside interview, the Deputy Sheriff developed reasonable articulable suspicion a crime was being committed. A subsequent consent search of the vehicle was conducted, and $208,226.00 worth of gold bars were located inside a backpack on the front seat. On the rear seat, multiple torn open UPS packages were located, with the name of an elderly man from Orchard Park, New York. The driver, Jaspreet Singh, denied ownership of the gold bars, and Singh was released pending further investigation.
Singh
Subsequent investigation revealed the resident in Orchard Park, NY had been the victim of an Elder Fraud Scheme. Deputy Sheriffs worked with Orchard Park Police Department throughout the investigation. The victim was found to have been contacted by a person claiming to be a United States Marshall, demanding payment in order to avoid arrest. The person claimed a United States Marshall Courier would drive to the victim’s residence, and that the victim was to place gold bars of a certain value into the rear seat of the courier’s vehicle. The victim complied, and the 20A traffic stop occurred within an hour of the exchange. The stolen gold bars were recovered and will be returned to the owner at a later date.
Also as part of the investigation, search warrants were conducted on two [2] smartphones which were located in Singh’s possession on the date of the traffic stop. Multiple videos of child pornography were located on Singh’s cell phone. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for Singh’s arrest.
Wyoming County Deputy Sheriffs worked with Passaic Police Department in New Jersey, after developing information that Singh could possibly be within the Passaic, NJ jurisdiction. Singh was taken into custody by Passaic Police Department and held as a Fugitive From Justice. On August 11, 2023, Wyoming County Deputy Sheriffs traveled to Passaic, NJ where they took custody of Singh and transported him back to Wyoming County to face his charges. Singh was arraigned in Warsaw Justice Court on charges of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree [Class C Felony], Possession of an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16 [Class E Felony], and Speed in Zone. Following arraignment, and in compliance with NYS Bail Reform, Singh was released on his own recognizance. After processing at the Wyoming County Jail, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took custody of Singh, pursuant to an Arrest Warrant and Immigration Detainer issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office reminds the people of Wyoming County to be skeptical of any unsolicited phone calls where a person is asking for money or personal information.
Government agencies will never call a person offering to accept payment in exchange for avoiding arrest. Further information on Elder Fraud Schemes can be viewed at the following websites:
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and- crimes/elder-fraud
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam#signshttps://www.justice.gov/file/1494411/download
