Friday, June 26th, 2026
Celina police spring sting on suspected scammer
From staff reports
A multi-agency law enforcement sting operation this week in Celina resulted in the arrest of a 22-year-old man granted asylum in 2024.
The Celina Police Department, with assistance from the FBI Northwest Ohio Safe Streets Task Force, Auglaize County Sheriff's Office detectives, and the Grand Lake Task Force, conducted a successful sting operation Wednesday targeting an individual involved in a purported scam, a news release from Celina Police Chief Tom Wale states.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Money Trap by authorities, resulted in the arrest of Anurgdeep Singh, 22.
The investigation began on June 20, when the Celina Police Department received a report from a 72-year-old female who had reportedly lost a significant amount of money in a scam, per the release. The woman reported that she had been contacted by someone who claimed her computer had been compromised with illicit and sexually explicit material.
The person then allegedly threatened to expose the information to "damage her reputation unless she paid them," Wale wrote in the release.
"After the initial scam, the suspects re-contacted the victim and demanded additional money. Determined not to be victimized again, the victim courageously agreed to assist law enforcement in the investigation," the release states. "With her cooperation, investigators from multiple agencies coordinated a sting operation known as Operation Money Trap."
A controlled cash exchange was arranged Wednesday for the suspect to collect the demanded funds. Although the suspect reportedly changed the meeting location at the last minute, the exchange and subsequent arrest were successfully carried out at the Marathon gas station on North Main Street in Celina.
Singh is being held without bond at the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility.
A criminal complaint was filed against him Thursday for one count of theft, a second-degree felony; and one count of telecommunications fraud, a third-degree felony.
According to Ohio Revised Code, theft is a second-degree felony in Ohio if the value of property or services stolen is between $37,500 to $150,000.
If convicted, Singh faces a minimum of two years to a maximum of 11 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $25,000.
Additional charges are possible pending a formal indictment.
Per the news release, Singh entered the country illegally in Douglas, Arizona, in 2022. He was granted asylum by a judge in New York in 2024.
"The Celina Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to the victim, who demonstrated exceptional courage by assisting in this investigation, as well as to her neighbors, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, and all assisting agencies," Wale wrote in the release. "It takes strength and determination to stand up against criminals, and this victim's cooperation helped prevent others from becoming victims of similar scams."
