Saini sentenced to 6 years for tech-support fraud targeting seniors
Federal Sentencing for Wire Fraud Scheme
Kartik Saini received a six years and one month federal prison sentence on June 25, 2026, from U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office—Northern District of Illinois. Saini pleaded guilty to wire fraud after operating a widespread tech-support fraud scheme that victimized senior citizens throughout the United States.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Saini and co-conspirators falsely represented to victims that their computers had been hacked and their bank accounts compromised DOJ. The fraudsters then induced victims to transfer money to bank accounts under their control. The scheme relied on social engineering and urgency tactics—common hallmarks of remote tech-support fraud targeting less digitally literate populations.
Scope and Victim Impact
While the Department of Justice summary released at sentencing did not itemize individual loss amounts in its primary press materials, secondary reporting documented that at least four victims lost more than $1.2 million total, with one Chicago resident suffering losses exceeding $746,000 NewsBreak. The scale of losses reflects the predatory nature of tech-support schemes, which exploit trust in computer expertise and fear of data breach.
Saini was identified as a foreign national in the DOJ charging documents, indicating involvement in what prosecutors characterized as an organized, cross-border fraud operation. The case aligns with a broader pattern of tech-support scams originating overseas and targeting vulnerable U.S. populations through phone calls, pop-up alerts, and email campaigns.
Enforcement and Broader Context
The sentencing reflects escalating federal enforcement of tech-support fraud. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois has prioritized prosecuting wire fraud schemes, particularly those targeting elderly Americans who face disproportionate risk from remote scams. Judge Blakey's sentence—exceeding six years—signals judicial recognition of the scheme's severity and the vulnerability of victims.
Tech-support fraud remains among the highest-reported fraud categories to the FBI and Federal Trade Commission. Perpetrators operating from overseas jurisdictions continue to operate with relative impunity in many cases, making successful domestic prosecutions and convictions like Saini's relatively uncommon. The case demonstrates that when evidence permits extradition or prosecution of foreign nationals in U.S. courts, federal judges are imposing substantial sentences.