US Accuses India-Based Gangs of Murder, Extortion Against Diaspora

The indictments, unsealed on Thursday, name members of three separate organized crime syndicates operating across the United States, Canada, and India. Prosecutors allege the groups used violence and threats to extort money from Indian nationals and diaspora members, often targeting business owners and community leaders.

According to court documents, the gangs coordinated attacks, including at least one murder, and engaged in large-scale drug trafficking to fund their operations. The charges include racketeering conspiracy, extortion, and conspiracy to commit murder, among other offenses.

The investigation, led by the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department, involved cooperation with international law enforcement agencies. Officials said the arrests, made in multiple states and abroad, mark a significant step in dismantling these networks.

The defendants are expected to appear in federal court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks. If convicted, they face sentences ranging from 20 years to life in prison, depending on the charges.