FBI Arrests Trisha Patel in Connection with $7M Louisiana Political Scandal in Florida

Trisha N. Patel: Navigating Life as the Spouse of Controversial Businessman Nikesh 'Nik' Patel

On Jan 31, 2024

HI INDIA NEWES DESK
ORLANDO, FL- Trisha N. Patel, the wife of scandal-plagued businessman Nikesh ‘Nik’ Patel, recently welcomed a new addition to her family and is now seeking a judge’s intervention to remove her from her husband’s multimillion-dollar fraud lawsuit.

Last fall, Trisha Patel was named in the lawsuit alongside her husband, who is accused of orchestrating a scheme involving the sale of more than $150 million in fraudulent loans.

In a recent development, Trisha Patel’s attorney, Sergio Acosta of Chicago, filed a motion on Friday requesting her dismissal from the civil suit. However, it’s important to note that this motion was subsequently denied.

Interestingly, the focus of the motion was not on refuting Trisha Patel’s alleged involvement in the fraud but rather on procedural grounds. Acosta argued that Trisha Patel had not been formally served with notice of the lawsuit as required by civil court rules.

Nik Patel, arrested by the FBI in September on charges related to the sale of counterfeit USDA loans, has seen the lawsuit against him and his wife expand. Milwaukee-based Pennant Management initiated the legal action in an attempt to recover at least $72 million in lost funds.

In response, Trisha Patel submitted a signed statement asserting her lack of knowledge regarding USDA loans. She contested the claims made by Pennant’s attorney (from Greenberg Traurig in Chicago), pointing out an error in alleging her association with a company called Coastal Securities. According to Trisha Patel, this was a case of mistaken identity, as the reference was to a different individual, Trisha I. Patel.

While Nik Patel’s criminal case faces delays, with the government seeking an extension until June to file a formal indictment, a court-appointed receiver is diligently working to gather Patel’s assets. This includes three hotels in Orlando, which are being prepared for sale in an effort to recoup losses incurred by the alleged fraud.