LANGLEY RCMP on Thursday announced that Jasmeet Singh, who was residing in Fresno, California, has been charged by the FBI for threatening a Langley resident.
The story was first reported on Monday by CBC’s Jason Proctor who said the suspect was charged “following a cross-border investigation into death threats against a Canadian-based extortion target of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.”
The 14-page criminal complaint, charging Singh with interstate communication of threats of violence, was filed at the end of November in the Eastern District of California.
Langley RCMP said that on May 27, 2024, they received a report of threats from a Langley resident who reported to police that they had received threatening phone calls from an unknown number. The Langley RCMP Investigative Services Section assumed conduct of the investigation. As a result of months long, complex and dynamic investigation, Jasmeet Singh was identified as a suspect.
As the investigation progressed, Langley RCMP investigators determined that Jasmeet Singh was residing in Fresno, California. Investigators then connected with the RCMP Liaison Officer in San Franscisco and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). As a result of cross-border and agency collaboration, additional evidence was gathered, and police began to further the investigation.
As a result of the investigative efforts of police in Langley and from the FBI, the decision was made for the FBI to proceed with the charge approval process in their jurisdiction.
The Langley RCMP continued the investigation and worked in partnership with the Federal RCMP International Operations to ensure ongoing information sharing with the FBI.
“This outcome is a direct result of the dedication, professionalism, and outstanding efforts of the Langley RCMP’s Investigative Services Section, the RCMP Liaison Officer program and our key partners in the United States. Their seamless cross-border collaboration was essential to this success,” said RCMP Superintendent Harm Dosange.
“We continue to encourage anyone who has been the victim of threats to report it to police and save all communications. Do not respond to threats and do not comply with demands,” the RCMP said.
PROCTOR, referring to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in California, said that Jasmeet Singh made repeated calls threatening a victim who moved to Canada after helping law enforcement in India identify and arrest two suspected blackmailers there.
A criminal complaint obtained by CBC News says the victim contacted RCMP when Singh allegedly sent a photograph of the victim’s vehicle parked outside of his residence and told him that he was going to die in Canada.
FBI agent Brian Toy wrote in the complaint: “I believe that Singh sent this photo to reinforce that the threat he was making to Victim 1 was backed up by the ability to carry out the threat.”
Proctor reported that court documents showed the victim’s dealings with the Bishnoi gang allegedly date back to July 2022, when they lived in India and befriended a woman and her associate who blackmailed the victim “by threatening to make rape allegations” unless they paid the equivalent of $239,000 US.
The victim refused to pay and was able to prove to India police that the allegations were bogus by providing copies of messages from the blackmailers.
The accused were arrested by Indian police when the victim arranged to meet the blackmailers with a promise of payment. Thereafter, the victim began receiving threats in India from a caller who said they were calling from “the Lawrence Group.” Toy said he believes those threats were made on behalf of the Bishnoi gang.
When the victim moved to Canada in 2024, he received threats through a WhatsApp phone number from a caller who identified himself as “Lucky Hoshiarpur.” Punjab’s Hoshiarpur is where Singh comes from. The threats came on the same day that the blackmailers in India were charged in court.
Toy wrote in the complaint: “Singh told Victim 1 the colour and make of the vehicle that Victim 1 drives, stating ‘do you not roam around in a white Range Rover over there?'”
He added: “Later that same day, Singh reinforced his threats (and his ability to carry them out) by sending Victim 1 a photo of Victim 1’s car parked across the street from Victim 1’s residence.”
A voice message taunted the victim: “Go make as many complaints as you want, you pussy. You act like you’re all about the police, let’s see if the police can save you.”
Canadian police identified a Facebook account belonging to Singh with photos that appeared to match the individual who was caught in the WhatsApp screen grab of the threats.
The FBI interviewed Singh in August 2024 and took a photo of him. “Based on the photo, I believe that Singh is ‘Lucky Hoshiarpur’ who threatened Victim 1 on May 27, 2024, because they appear to be the same person,” Toy wrote in the complaint.
Proctor reported that immigration documents say Singh entered the United States in April 2023, coming from the district of Hoshiarpur in Punjab.
Singh did not directly mention the Bishnoi group in his calls, however, Toy said that the threats made regarding the victim’s co-operation with police likely indicate his connection to the gang.
NOTE: None of the allegations against Jasmeet Singh have been proven in court.
