A several day joint operation by federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities has resulted in the arrest of three men on charges related to fraud and scam activities. This follows a previous arrest of 31 year old WENYAN SONG, a Chinese national, on July 28th on a Baxter County Circuit Court Bench Warrant a theft charge related to a scam.
Scammers have been very active in this area, preying on vulnerable members of the community. Several area residents have sustained considerable monetary losses as a result of these scams. Most of these scams are directed at the elderly. They depend on threats or coercion to convince the intended victim to liquidate their savings and send it to them. The scammer often pretends to be some type of Federal Agent or law enforcement official. Local, federal, and state authorities partnered with Chappy Grey with Trilogy Media, Inc. to set up a sting operation to attempt to thwart scammers targeting Baxter County citizens. Trilogy Media is an organization dedicated to alerting the public about scams and shedding light on scammers through video observation and recording. Scammers work out of call centers located in other countries outside of the United States. Scammers will use other persons who are referred to as “money mules” to make pick-ups of cash from victims after the scammer has arranged the transaction by phone. The joint operation was directed at apprehending these “money mules” as they make the pick-ups.
On Thursday, August 14, 2025, the first money mule was arrested in Mountain Home after he arrived at a residence to pick up $60,000 in cash during a pre-planned arrangement made between an overseas scammer and a team member posing as an elderly disabled person. This activity was coordinated and surveilled by law enforcement officials. After the cash had been picked up by the suspect, who was posing as a Federal Trade Commission Officer, “FTC Agent”, saying he was “here for the money”, the suspect fled from the residence in a motor vehicle, pursued by officers. The mule was stopped and apprehended a short time later in a residential area of Mountain Home. He was identified as 24 year old PRUTHVIRAJ GHANSHYAMBHA BUTIYA, who provided a current address of St. Charles, Missouri. BUTIYA, a citizen of India, was said to be in the United States on a student visa. The vehicle he was driving was seized for further investigative purposes. BUTIYA was subsequently taken to the Baxter County Detention Center and booked on charges of:
Theft of Property – Felony
Fleeing by Vehicle – Felony
HOLD – US Department of Homeland Security
PRUTHVRAJ BUTIYA is being held on $25,000 cash bond. He will appear before the Baxter County Circuit Court to answer on August 25th. Federal authorities will be reviewing his visa status.
The next day, Friday August 15, 2025, a second money mule was arrested following a similar arrangement that was coordinated and surveilled by law enforcement. This transaction had been set up for $60,000 as well. This money mule, identified as 27 year old OSAZUWA PRESLEY IKPONMWOSA, showing an address of Houston, Texas, was apprehended at the residence in Mountain Home by officers stationed there after being dropped off there on foot by another suspect. He was posing as an FTC Officer and a representative of PayPal. Once IKPONMWOSA was arrested, his co-conspirator fled from the area by vehicle, with officers giving chase.
A vehicle pursuit ensued, with the suspect fleeing through residential streets in Mountain Home to West Road, then fleeing West bound to State Highway 126, then North bound to Midway and the junction of State Highway 5 North. The pursuit continued North bound on State Highway 5 North for several miles. Pursuing officers temporarily lost visual contact with the fleeing vehicle. It was last seen in the area of State Highway 5 North and Baxter CR 16. As officers came to the area, they observed vehicle debris in the roadway, and the stop sign at that intersection had been knocked over. This caused officers to believe the suspect had turned on Baxter CR 16. A perimeter was set up by multiple officers. The Sheriff’s Office launched its helicopter to assist in locating the suspect vehicle.
While searching various side roads and driveways in the area for the suspect vehicle, a local resident had knowledge of the whereabouts of the vehicle. He was untruthful with officers when asked about the vehicle, and he later blocked a pathway to where he knew the vehicle to be located to prevent officers from passing through. This person was identified as 22 year old GAGE THURMAN. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the Baxter County Detention Center where he was booked on a misdemeanor charge of Obstructing Governmental Operations, with an appearance in Baxter County District Court set for September 25th.
The vehicle was found abandoned in a wooded area at the end of a field near that intersection, but it could not be seen from the ground. The vehicle was spotted by the helicopter. The canine tracking team from the North Central Unit – Arkansas Division of Correction was summoned to the scene. The canine team tracked the suspect and located him hidden in a location approximately 150 yards from where the vehicle had been abandoned. The suspect was taken into custody. He was identified as 28 year old PRANAV SHARMA, who provided an address of Haltom City, Texas. SHARMA is a citizen of India.
The manhunt for SHARMA lasted approximately three hours. The United States Department of Homeland Security has placed an immigration hold on him. The vehicle SHARMA was driving was seized for further investigative purposes.
OSAZUWA PRESLEY IKPONMWOSA, a US Citizen, was transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and incarcerated on a charge of:
Theft of Property – Felony
PRANAV SHARMA was transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and incarcerated on charges of:
Theft of Property – Felony
Fleeing by Vehicle – Felony
Reckless Driving – Misdemeanor
HOLD – US Department of Homeland Security
IKPONMWOSA and SHARMA both have a bond of $25,000 cash each on their charges. They are scheduled to appear before the Baxter County Circuit Court on August 25th to answer.
During this week long operation, it is believed that there were more than ten other “money mules” in Baxter County to pick up cash, but they have subsequently left the area. The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office will continue to collaborate with federal, state, and other local law enforcement agencies and our other partners in our ongoing efforts to protect members of the community from falling victim to scams, thefts, and other fraudulent activities. This joint operation was undertaken to attempt to apprehend and prosecute these scammers, and also more importantly to bring awareness to how prevalent these scams are. Hopefully this will educate and inform the public of these scams and prevent others from becoming a victim.
Agencies involved in this operation were the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Home Police Department, Arkansas State Police, United States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Arkansas Division of Corrections, Baxter County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.