Indian-Origin IT Employee Arrested in New York for Moonlighting Scam Worth $50,00
A 39-year-old Indian-origin man, Mehul Goswami, has been arrested in New York for allegedly defrauding the state by secretly holding two full-time jobs. According to US media reports, Goswami was charged with grand larceny after authorities discovered that he had been moonlighting while working remotely for the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS).
Investigators revealed that Goswami was simultaneously working as a contractor for GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor company based in Malta, New York, from March 2022. His unauthorized dual employment reportedly resulted in the misuse of nearly $50,000 in taxpayer money.
The investigation began after officials received an anonymous email alleging that Goswami was working for a private employer during hours when he was supposed to be performing his state duties.
Inspector General Lucy Lang condemned the act, saying, "Public employees are entrusted with the responsibility to serve with integrity, and Goswami's alleged conduct represents a serious breach of that trust. Working a second, full-time job while claiming to be working for the State is an abuse of public resources, including taxpayer dollars."
Following the probe by the New York State Inspector General’s Office and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Goswami was arrested on October 15. He has been charged with grand larceny in the second degree, a class C felony in New York, carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Goswami appeared before Judge James A. Fauci in the Malta Town Court later in the week and was released without bail while the case proceeds. Under the revised New York state law, the charges against Goswami do not qualify for bail.
"My office will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold anyone accountable who seeks to undermine the integrity of public service in New York State," Lang added.
Reports suggest Goswami ‘earned’ around Rs 40 lakh (approximately $50,000) from his second job while still drawing his state salary. The case has raised serious questions about remote work monitoring and accountability among public employees in the US.
Authorities have emphasized that such misuse of public resources will not be tolerated and vowed stricter oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Investigators revealed that Goswami was simultaneously working as a contractor for GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor company based in Malta, New York, from March 2022. His unauthorized dual employment reportedly resulted in the misuse of nearly $50,000 in taxpayer money.
The investigation began after officials received an anonymous email alleging that Goswami was working for a private employer during hours when he was supposed to be performing his state duties.
Inspector General Lucy Lang condemned the act, saying, "Public employees are entrusted with the responsibility to serve with integrity, and Goswami's alleged conduct represents a serious breach of that trust. Working a second, full-time job while claiming to be working for the State is an abuse of public resources, including taxpayer dollars."
Following the probe by the New York State Inspector General’s Office and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Goswami was arrested on October 15. He has been charged with grand larceny in the second degree, a class C felony in New York, carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Goswami appeared before Judge James A. Fauci in the Malta Town Court later in the week and was released without bail while the case proceeds. Under the revised New York state law, the charges against Goswami do not qualify for bail.
"My office will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold anyone accountable who seeks to undermine the integrity of public service in New York State," Lang added.
Reports suggest Goswami ‘earned’ around Rs 40 lakh (approximately $50,000) from his second job while still drawing his state salary. The case has raised serious questions about remote work monitoring and accountability among public employees in the US.
Authorities have emphasized that such misuse of public resources will not be tolerated and vowed stricter oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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