A federal grand jury in Alaska has indicted two men in connection with a $4.5 million fraud and money laundering scheme that spanned nearly nine years and affected at least 28 victims in the United States and abroad.
According to court documents, Michael Edward Gregg, 62, of Anchorage, and Vikash Pandey, 36, an Indian national residing in India, are accused of conspiring with others by posing as employees of various tech support or security companies. The indictment alleges that the group targeted primarily elderly and vulnerable individuals through emails or online pop-up messages claiming there was a problem with their computer’s virus protection.
Victims were offered refunds for disputed charges—typically between $400 and $500—but were then told that an accidental over-refund had occurred, often totaling $40,000 to $50,000. The conspirators allegedly pressured victims to return the supposed excess funds using checks, wire transfers, cash or Bitcoin.
The indictment states that Gregg and another co-conspirator created multiple bank accounts to receive these fraudulent funds. In some cases, victims were told their payments had not gone through or were given other reasons to send additional money.
One incident described in court documents involved an elderly victim who received an email from an antivirus company about a $499.99 charge. After contacting what she believed was the company’s number and following instructions from a member of the conspiracy, she sent money via bitcoin ATM, delivered U.S. currency in person, and mailed cashier’s checks to Gregg over five months—totaling more than $2 million.
Authorities allege that once funds arrived in U.S. bank accounts controlled by Gregg or his associates, he would keep a commission—ranging from 3% to 20%—before transferring remaining proceeds overseas to contacts including Pandey in India as well as individuals in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Financial institutions reportedly flagged accounts under Gregg’s control due to suspicious activity; some accounts were closed or restricted as a result. Prosecutors say Gregg managed more than two dozen bank accounts used during the alleged conspiracy.
Gregg and Pandey face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy and international money laundering conspiracy. If convicted on all counts they could each face up to 20 years imprisonment or fines up to $500,000—or twice the value of laundered funds—with sentencing determined by a federal judge based on statutory guidelines.
Gregg is scheduled for his initial court appearance on September 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble at the District Court for Alaska; Pandey remains at large in India.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska stated: “Fraud schemes have become increasingly sophisticated. Take extra steps to protect your personal and financial information. Do not respond or click links in text messages, emails or social media posts that appear suspicious or are unsolicited.”
Heyman announced the indictment alongside Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke of IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office. The IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office is leading the investigation with assistance from FBI Anchorage Field Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson is prosecuting.
Authorities urge anyone who suspects they may be a victim of financial fraud to contact local law enforcement or seattlefieldoffice@ci.irs.gov.
Officials remind the public: “An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
