A Brookfield man who served as a courier in a scam targeting older adults has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution. Ankurkumar Patel pleaded guilty in June to a money laundering charge. Prosecutors said he collected and laundered more than $1 million from multiple older victims in several states. The conspiracy operated from May through September 2023, collecting cash and gold bars from victims in Sheboygan and elsewhere. In one case, victims in North Aurora, Illinois, handed over more than $1.1 million during three pickups in August 2023. Scammers often contact older people by phone or through computer pop-up ads, impersonate government officials and falsely claim a victim’s accounts are compromised or connected to crime. They then pressure people to turn over cash or gold for safekeeping, with couriers sent to collect the valuables, according to the FBI. At Patel’s sentencing hearing Tuesday, the judge noted that the victims were older people who lost their life savings. The charge carried a maximum possible sentence of 20 years. “[I]t was heartbreaking to hear of the financial devastation these scammers caused to Americans who worked their whole lives to save for retirement,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel said. “We will aggressively pursue those who steal from senior citizens.” People who believe they have been targeted by a similar scam can contact the FBI at 414-276-4684 or file a report at IC3.gov.