A Scranton man faces felony charges in a theft investigation in which an Upper Milford Township resident was convinced to purchase and give him gold bars valued at more than $200,000, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s office.

In a press release dated July 25, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced charges against Dharmikkumar Sutariya, 25.

Sutariya was in custody in Luzerne County at the time of the press release.

Sutariya is charged with “two counts of theft by unlawful taking – movable property, both felonies of the second degree; receiving stolen property, a felony of the second degree; theft by deception – false impression, a felony of the third degree and criminal use of a communication facility, a felony of the third degree,” according to authorities.

A fraud investigation by Kingston Borough Police in May found a possible victim in Upper Milford Township, according to authorities.

Kingston borough is in Luzerne County.

Pennsylvania State Police began an investigation in June.

The circumstances were outlined as follows:

The Upper Milford Township resident told state police in January they received a computer notification someone used their bank account to purchase $18,000 in pornography.

The resident did not ask for help because they were embarrassed of the allegation the money was used for pornography, according to authorities.

“This is a tactic that scammers use to get victims to comply,” according to the press release.

The computer notification also included a contact number for someone to speak with and who the resident thought to be with the fraud department at their bank, according to the press release.

“When the victim called the phone number provided to her, she spoke with someone who purported to be an agent with the “Federal Trade Commission.” That “agent” said the bank account had been compromised,” according to the press release.

The supposed FTC official advised the resident to remove money from the comprised account and buy gold bars and give the bars to “couriers” for safe keeping.

“From February 2025 through May 2025, the victim made large purchases of gold bars and had provided them to the “couriers” as directed by the scammers,” the press release details.

Authorities allege Sutariya came to the Upper Milford Township resident’s home May 13 “and was given two gold bars valued at more than $215,400.”

Monetary losses in Lehigh and Luzerne counties in the overall investigation total more than $3 million, according to authorities.