06/25/2026
Operation Money Trap Leads to Arrest in Multi-Agency Scam Investigation
On June 24, 2026, 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 targeting an individual involved in a scam investigation. The operation resulted in the arrest of Anurgdeep Singh, a 22-year-old male currently residing in the United States.
The investigation began on June 20, 2026, when the Celina Police Department received a report from a 72-year-old female who had been victimized in a financial scam involving a significant loss of money. The victim reported that she had been contacted by a scammer who falsely claimed her computer had been compromised with illicit and sexually explicit material. The scammer then threatened to expose this fabricated information and damage her reputation unless she paid them.
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. With her cooperation, investigators from multiple agencies coordinated a sting operation known as Operation Money Trap.
On June 24, a controlled cash exchange was arranged for the suspect to collect the demanded funds. Although the suspect changed the meeting location at the last minute, investigators quickly adapted to the change. The exchange and subsequent arrest were successfully carried out at the Marathon gas station on North Main Street in Celina.
Singh was incarcerated at the Mercer County Jail and charged with Theft (ORC 2913.02), a felony of the fourth degree. Additional charges are expected pending further review by Mercer County Prosecutor Erin Minor.
Additionally, it should be noted that Anurgdeep Singh did enter the country illegally at Douglas, AZ in 2022. A New York judge granted him asylum 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. It takes strength and determination to stand up against criminals, and this victim’s cooperation helped prevent others from becoming victims of similar scams.
