The Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) worked jointly to detain two (2) Lebanon County convicted criminals for deportation proceedings.  Digvijaysinh Chauhan (age twenty-three) and Hemal Patel (age twenty-six) faced sentencing for Felony Theft and Conspiracy charges before the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas on March 12, 2025.  Following sentencing both males were detained in HSI custody to face deportation proceedings.

In January of 2024, the North Lebanon (now Lebanon County Regional) Police Department commenced an investigation into the report of a complicated financial scam.  The victims reported electronic messages appeared on their computers which claimed their bank accounts were hacked.  The messages told the victims to withdraw substantial sums from their bank accounts immediately.   The victims followed the messages directives and withdrew over $50,000.  Additional messages told the victims to deposit $24,000 into a Harrisburg bitcoin machine.  They complied but grew suspicious.  The victims phoned police who then monitored the scammers’ future attempts to steal additional funds.  The victims retained $30,000 in cash at their home per instructions of the scammers.  The scammers told the victims to give the $30,000 in cash to a man who would appear at their home.  A male drove to the victims’ residence and they gave him the entire lump sum.  As the male drove away with the cash, police pulled him over and initiated their investigation.  CHAUHAN drove the vehicle on the day in question; PATEL owned the vehicle and rode as a passenger on the day in question.  Lieutenant Greg Behney charged both men with Felony Theft and Conspiracy charges.  Both men pled guilty to their offenses.

Both men appeared for sentencing on March 12, 2025, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement.  The men paid the full financial restitution owed to both victims.  The Commonwealth worked with HSI who immediately detained both Defendants at the end of their respective Sentencing Hearing.  Both Defendants waived any appeal rights which allows for their immediate detention and deportation.

“Entry into the United States is a privilege and not a right.  To exist in this country illegally, and then to prey upon our citizens, is unconscionable.  We will continue to work with ICE and HSI to deport any illegal criminals within our County,” said District Attorney Pier Hess Graf.