Third Arrest Made in Ongoing Fraud Investigation

The Albany, N.Y. County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a third individual as part of an investigation into a national organized fraud scheme taking place in Northern Berkshire County. Law enforcement arrested 23-year-old Parth “Peter” Chaudhari, of Adams, Wednesday afternoon.

Albany officials are holding Chaudhari without the right to bail on a charge of Fugitive from Justice based on a warrant issued in Massachusetts for charges associated with a fraud investigation.

The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office and the Adams Police Department filed for an arrest warrant for Chaudhari on Wednesday. Law enforcement will transport him to Massachusetts for arraignment in Northern Berkshire District Court on charges of larceny by false pretenses over $1,200, larceny from a person over the age of 65, and conspiracy following rendition proceedings.

I thank all of the law enforcement in multiple states for their great, collaborative effort in investigating this complex case. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact their local police agency ~ District Attorney Andrea Harrington

Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington said that nationally in 2019, people reported losing $1.9 million through various scams, and residents should be aware of the signs of a scam and protect themselves from becoming a victim.

The arrest is the third as a result of a three-month-long, multi-agency investigation spanning numerous states into an organized fraud scheme.

Law enforcement previously arrested 24-year-old Ajaykumar Chaudhari, of Pownal, and 27-year-old Jitendra Chaudhari, of Williamstown. They are facing charges of larceny by false pretenses over $1,200, larceny from a person over the age of 65, and conspiracy. Each of the charges carries state prison sentences of up to five years. The court ordered that they are held on $100,000 bail and surrender their passports.