Vatsal Pankajkumar Mistry | Provided
Vatsal Pankajkumar Mistry | Provided
The Lucas County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest and booking of a man implicated in a phantom hacker money laundering scheme.
According to 13abc/WTVG, federal court filings indicate that Vatsal Pankajkumar Mistry faces charges of money laundering conspiracy, concealment money laundering, and promotion money laundering. These charges were formally filed on September 17, 2025, with Mistry being booked into the Lucas County Jail the following day. Investigators allege his arrest is connected to a "phantom hacker" scheme targeting victims in Ohio and Michigan.
The same report from 13abc/WTVG describes how a 76-year-old woman from Ann Arbor was deceived into believing she was receiving technical support to remove a computer application. After granting remote access, scammers convinced her that an accidental overpayment had occurred, pressuring her to return funds. Over several weeks, she surrendered more than $500,000 in cash and gold bars before law enforcement intervened and arrested a man collecting nearly $30,000 at her residence.
Investigators informed 13abc/WTVG that Mistry admitted during a non-custodial interview to participating in multiple parcel pickups for which he earned about $500 each time. He denied directing others; however, other co-conspirators alleged that Mistry provided instructions, leading to conflicting testimonies. Prosecutors noted that Mistry waived his preliminary hearing and the case has been forwarded to a federal grand jury. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer ensures he remains in custody.
The Lucas County Sheriff’s Office operates one of the largest detention facilities in northwest Ohio. According to its official site, the office is responsible for corrections, law enforcement services, and coordination with federal agencies in cases involving cross-jurisdictional crime. The jail manages thousands of annual bookings and provides secure housing for detainees facing both state and federal charges while enforcing ICE detainers like the one applicable in Mistry’s case.
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