Warsaw, N.Y. (WBEN) - A Queens man has been charged after more than $200,000 in stolen gold was found in his vehicle during a traffic stop in July.
Deputies say a further investigation led to child porn discovered on his phone.
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Last month, deputies say they conducted a traffic stop on 20A in Warsaw for traffic infractions. Deputies say a subsequent consent search of the vehicle was conducted, and $208,226 worth of gold bars were located inside a backpack on the front seat of 28-year-old Jaspreet Singh's car.
On the rear seat, multiple torn open UPS packages were located with the name of an elderly man from Orchard Park.
Deputies say their investigation revealed the resident had been the victim of a scheme, having been contacted by a person claiming to be a United States Marshal, demanding payment in order to avoid arrest. Deputies add the person claimed a United States Marshal Courier would drive to the victim’s residence, and the victim was to place gold bars of a certain value into the rear seat of the courier’s vehicle.
The 20A traffic stop occurred within an hour of the exchange, according to deputies.
Search warrants were conducted on two smartphones, which were located in Singh’s possession on the date of the traffic stop. Multiple videos of child pornography were located on Singh’s cell phone, which resulted in a subsequent arrest warrant issued for Singh.
Singh was taken into custody by the Passaic Police Department, and is being held as a Fugitive From Justice. Last Friday, Wyoming County Deputy Sheriffs traveled to Passaic, New Jersey, where they took custody of Singh and transported him back to Wyoming County to face numerous charges.
After processing at the Wyoming County Jail, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took custody of Singh, pursuant to an Arrest Warrant and Immigration Detainer issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
