A Jasper County resident over the age of 80 became the target of a large-scale financial scam, resulting in the loss of $669,250. SanJeev Kumar, 41, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the scheme, which unfolded between March and July 2025.
Authorities say Kumar, along with associates, executed a coordinated plan to obtain the victim’s assets illegally. The operation came to light when Kumar and a co-conspirator attempted to collect $248,000 in gold from the victim’s rural Grinnell home on July 9, 2025, leading to their arrest.
Kumar pleaded guilty to a Class B felony charge of facilitating a criminal network. His co-defendant, Hussin Ahmadbin from Chicago, was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $430 civil penalty. Ahmadbin reportedly had limited awareness of the fraudulent activities and pleaded guilty to 4th-degree theft.
Officials urge residents, particularly the elderly, to remain vigilant against financial scams. A restitution hearing for Kumar is scheduled for March 16, 2026, which will determine how much the victim may recover.
