A video has gone viral on social media with users claiming that “A Gujju Tejas Patel was caught red-handed by Florida police with a bag full of bombs and ammunition in America. Later, his brother Hardik Patel was also apprehended. They have been arrested on terrorism charges.”
Fact Check
During the investigation, DFRAC found the claim to be false. We found multiple media reports regarding the viral video. According to ‘WPBF’ carrying similar video published on June 28, 2024 “Tejaskumar Patel, 21, has been charged with multiple counts of grand theft of $100,000 or more. Investigators said back in May, Patel scammed an older man in Martin County to pay him $150,000 in gold bars to free him from what were actually fake arrest warrants.”
Furthermore, we also found a report from ‘WQCS’ published on June 28, 2024 stated “Martin County Sheriff Detectives have accused 21-year-old Tejas kumar Bipin bhai Patel of taking part in a phone-scam that threatened elderly victims with jail unless they paid up in gold bars. Investigators have seized $260,000 in gold bars from Patel and charged him with multiple counts of grand theft.”
Conclusion
It is evident from the DFRAC’s fact check that the social media claim stating that Tejas Patel was caught with bombs and arrested on terrorism charges is false. In reality, Tejaskumar Patel has been charged with multiple counts of grand theft related to a phone scam involving elderly victims.
