I'm going to find out who you are and I'm I'm going to put a warrant out for your arrest and I'm going to come personally put handcuffs on you. >> Get ready for a real-life sting operation that takes a shocking turn. Today, we're looking at how the Rio Arriba Sheriff's Office stopped a scammer who pretended to be a US Marshal and threatened a man with arrest unless he paid a fake fine. What starts as a simple phone call turns into a full takedown revealing a scam network bigger than anyone expected. >> Caravan is still at the top of the driveway. Looks like a gap white hoodie. They're making the exchange right now. Stand by. >> Okay, we're halfway down. What do you want me to do? >> Units, go go go. >> Get on the >> Get on the ground. Get on the ground. GET ON THE GROUND. [screaming] HAVE MY BACK. THAT CARAVAN, THAT CARAVAN, IT'S BACKING UP. Do not [ __ ] move. All right. Hands right back. Yeah, cuffs. Yeah, cuffs. Stay right there. See the guy that picked up the money last time? Okay. >> The whole case began with one scared citizen who did exactly the right thing. After receiving a threatening call demanding money, he contacted the Sheriff's Office and explained everything. Deputies immediately recognized the scam and set up a controlled sting at the victim's home. The plan was simple. Wait for the scammer to show up and catch him in the act. >> All right. What's your name? >> Mahendra. >> Mahen Mahendra? Okay. You ever heard of Miranda rights before? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. All right, so I'm going to read it to you. >> You saw it on videos, okay. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand those rights? >> Yes, sir. >> With that in mind, do you mind talking to me? >> Yeah, I don't mind. >> Okay. So, what happened? >> Basically, one of the guy reach me out. He asked me like I have to go like I have to go at this location, pick up a package and just bring it back to the airport. >> Okay. >> And they will pay me like 1,000 bucks. >> Where'd you fly out from? From Dallas, okay. Where's this guy from? >> And I came from really from Pennsylvania [snorts] to Dallas and then Dallas to here like connecting flights. >> Okay. So, you flew all the way to Dallas to pick up money? >> I I'm not sure what is what was in there. Really, like I just got told like all right, this is where I have to pick up a package. >> So, you're telling you're telling me that when I dump your phone, there's not going to be text messages and stuff on there talking about how you're going to get money from this guy? >> Yes. And you just I just got the location. >> thought it was totally legit that you just come to some guy's house? >> I'm not sure like they were like they will pay me 1,000 bucks and I was just going through some stuff like I just had a baby and we are not meeting up the bills and everything and he was going to help me out a little bit. So, that's why >> You realize that you're taking this man's retirement, you're taking everything he's ever worked for. Listen to me for a second. Listen to me Listen to me for a second. You're taking everything that this man has worked for in his entire life. He worked in a great profession to build the money and you're coming over here and you're taking it from him. >> I totally understand that, sir, but that I That's not what I'm doing. I I just got told >> Okay, but if I got a phone number and how did they contact you originally? >> They contact me over the phone. He got nothing to do. He just >> He just He just picked you up from Santa Fe? >> Yeah. >> Soon enough, a vehicle pulled into the driveway. The suspect stepped out, confident and ready to collect what he thought was easy cash. But the moment he approached the house, deputies rushed in from every direction. The suspect was ordered to the ground and detained as units secured the area. >> So, do you know this guy at all? >> No, never met him. >> How how did he contact you? >> Like there are a few friends that that's where it came from via via. >> So, he's a friend of a friend? >> Yeah, like two three friends and then he got diagnosed with cancer. >> So, just all of a sudden he's like, "Hey, I know you're in Pennsylvania. I want you to fly to New Mexico to go pick up a package for me and I'll give you a thousand dollars for it." >> So, basically what happened, I used to live in Virginia and I just moved down to Pennsylvania some time ago and we had a business in like Virginia. I never did this, this is my first time. I moved to Pennsylvania and it's a lot of expensive and as of I'm working, I'm not reaching the meds. So, I was talking to my friend like, "All right, this is the case. I might do something like start working on the side to make extra money or my wife I'll take care of the baby and my wife can work." So, that's how like we were just talking casually. >> Mhm. >> And one day he just suddenly called me and he was like, "I have something like that. If you want to do it, it's all good." I was like, "Okay, I just have to pick up a packet then I'm good. Like is there any drugs or anything like that?" He was like, "No, no, there's nothing drugs." I was like, "Okay." So, he called me like two days ago and like you have to fly there. I was like, "Okay." He was paying for all the tickets and everything. And I flew here and it happened. >> Okay. >> I didn't know anything about it. >> Is this the first time you've been here? >> Yes. >> It's not the second time? >> No. >> But were you here last Sunday? I think it was you. >> No, it wasn't me. >> Well, then it was >> Cuz obviously like my friend, he was my partner, he just looks like me. >> Is he the one? >> I'm not sure. I don't know anything about nobody. >> Okay. >> I think you're lying, bro. >> Hm? >> I think you're lying to us. >> Yeah, I mean I'm I'm going to get all >> Sir, why would I have like seven months old kid? >> to you're trying to steal my >> Because you're facing >> You're going to stand right here. I'm going to make a phone call, okay? >> Sure. Like I would not lie. Like I have seven months old kid. >> You're trying to cover your ass. That's what exactly you're trying to do because Have you ever been to jail in the United States? >> No. >> No? >> I've never got convicted with anything. >> Yeah, well, the fear of you're very close to going there, my friend. >> Well, sir. >> So, I would I would understand why you would be untruthful with me and us right now. >> What? >> I do this for a living. >> I totally understand, sir. I respect you. But at the same time, like I have nothing to hide that's going to save me. I'm just being honest to you. If I did something wrong, yeah, I have to face the consequences. But at the same time, I didn't know what was going on and all that. I was just picking up a package for somebody. >> Mhm. >> If I knew, I would have never did this cuz I'd rather work 80 hours a week than doing something like that. >> No. >> But >> I don't believe one thing you just told me. >> I used to work 120 hours a week, sir. But right now, the things are not that great and I got offered for $1,000. I was like, "Okay, just package. I'll do it." >> Looks like you're doing all right with those brand new pair of Nikes, brand new shirt, brand new pants. >> Yeah. Looks like you're doing all right with that gold chain, too. Doesn't look like you're hurting for money very much. >> No, this is not I spent money on >> Okay, everything you're telling me right now is going straight out the door. I'm not the officer handling this, okay? >> That doesn't mean that I bought it. Like if you see the marks on the gold like you know the mark there has the >> Whatever you're telling on me is I don't believe one damn word you're telling me. >> I totally understand. >> Yeah. >> But if you see the marks on it like I think so US has some other mark and India has to some other mark. I think so you will you will find that on the chain. >> Okay. >> My mom got it made for me and my brother like last year. >> Yeah. >> And my brother just came down >> hurting that bad bro. You picked the wrong people. You picked the wrong Mexico is the wrong state to come bro. It's all I have to say to you. >> I would have turned down that the same minute. >> Yeah well I'm sure you're going to you regret you're going to regret it and you're going to regret it for the rest of your life. >> Once in custody he claimed he knew nothing that he was just picking up a package but investigators quickly saw through it. He had flown across multiple states was following specific instructions and had a story that didn't add up. Even more suspicious his phone started ringing nonstop from the people coordinating the scam. >> This is Detective Jacobs of the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office. We got your boy and we're coming for you okay. Just put you on notice. You feel good about your you feel good about yourself scamming old men out of their money? Yeah I'm an actual cop. I'm I'm not a fake US Marshal like you say you are. I'm going to find I'm going to find out who you are. I'm I'm going to put a warrant out for your arrest and I'm going to come personally put handcuffs on you. Oh I will. >> Who do you think you are you say? >> I'm the guy that's going to put a federal warrant out for your arrest eventually through the FBI. >> Oh please. >> What you got to say? How about you send me a picture of you then I'll send you a picture of me. No I'm good. I'll just send you a If you're as big and bad as you think you are just send you a send a picture. >> Is he drunk? >> What I say? >> Sounds like it. >> I said if you think you're as big and bad as you are just go ahead and send you a send this phone a picture. You're really far away. Can't hear you. Okay, have a good day. >> Lock that number phone too. >> Yep. Put in your password. Hold on just a second. >> up? >> Who is this? >> Who's this? Hold on. Hold on. I'll give you a call right back. >> What's up, Jacob? >> Yeah, you said Who are you? >> I have Orlando here. This is a friend of his. >> Orlando? >> Yes. Yes, this is Orlando. >> What happened? >> Uh they arrested the guy that picked up your money and my money. And and I hope you can I hope you can send some of my money back or most of all of it is what what you got from me last Sunday. >> Uh your money will come back on time as I have told you. >> You're really good at playing this part, bro, but we're going to find out who you are. So, don't worry about that. You picked the wrong county to do this kind of [ __ ] in. >> Deputies answered the calls themselves, confronting the ringleader who boldly kept pretending he was a federal agent. But the moment he realized he was speaking to actual law enforcement, the tone changed and that phone call gave investigators even more evidence they needed. >> All right. So, as of right now, you are going to be under arrest for uh fraud, okay? Like I said, you you know what's going on. So, hold hold on, listen. So, here's what here's what's going to happen, okay? And what I want you to do is I want you to think really hard about this, okay? On our way back to the office, okay? You're an accessory to this, okay? Whether you say that you believed it or not, what I want you to do is I want you to think really hard by the time we get back to the office. I'm going to talk to you, okay? And in that between here and there, I'm going to call the FBI, okay? Because you came from different states and now the money that you were supposed to pick up reaches over $100,000, it's a good chance the FBI is going to pick this up, okay? So, I want you to be a witness in this, not a defendant eventually, okay? So, I want you to think long and hard about telling me the truth, and we'll get over there, we'll talk again, okay? >> Yep. >> All right, perfect. >> Get him in your custody. >> Yeah. Slow. You're going to hurt yourself. >> This way? >> Yes, yeah. You're going to have to go get your phone number changed. >> I think they're going to I don't think they're going to come in this way and Oh, that's my weapon. >> sorry about what you guys have gone through, but >> been hell. I'll tell you. >> But, so like I said, uh go get your phone number changed, okay? Cuz they're going to they're he's just going to create new numbers and he's going to continue to call you, okay? Even though I blocked it. Um but just uh just go get a new phone number. >> When you do get a phone number, please relay it back to us because going forward, this isn't the end. We're going to have to go to court and we're going to have to prosecute these guys to the fullest extent, okay? >> Oh god. >> He he may be he may be overseas. I I don't know. >> You won't be able to track him down now, too, huh? >> Yeah, so I'm going to call I'm going to call my contact with the FBI right now, let them know that he came from Pennsylvania. And uh there's still a chance they might pick it up, so we'll we'll have to we'll have to figure that out, okay? You have my phone number for now. Uh like I said, get your get your phone number changed, but I have your wife's number. If something happens, I'll I'll give you a call in the meantime, but I'll I'll make sure to to meet up with you again, and we'll I'll get your new number whenever you get it, but please get a new number cuz they're going to continue to call you. >> So, when you going to get it, like like Monday, you mean? >> Probably, yeah. Just tell them that just just go in to whoever you have, Verizon, AT&T, Mobile T-Mobile, whatever. Verizon, just go into Verizon, just tell them you need to get a phone number changed, and uh they should just be able to to put in a new phone number. But, if I have any questions or anything, uh I'll give you a call, okay? I want to get this guy back and interview him a little bit more. Okay? >> I know. >> All right. >> Thank thank you guys for helping me. >> Absolutely. Just take care. >> Thanks for everything. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Mahendra was arrested that day and was booked for attempting to commit fraud over $20,000. Federal authorities are now joining the investigation to go after the larger network behind him.