New York. An Indian citizen has been arrested in connection with a multi-million dollar fraud targeting the elderly in America. Jai Sunilbharti Goswami (21), a resident of Gujarat, was living in Jersey City, New Jersey and was detained in Canada when he was trying to flee to Qatar.
Jail sentence up to 20 years
US Attorney Michael DiGiacomo said on Friday that authorities have charged Goswami with communications fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. These charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Goswami was produced before US Magistrate Judge Mark Peterson on August 17, from where he was released with certain conditions. The very next day he went to Canada.
Failed to escape from Canada to Qatar
Investigating agencies learned that he had purchased a flight ticket from Toronto to Doha, Qatar on the evening of August 18. Canadian authorities, at the request of the US, detained Goswami at Toronto Pearson International Airport and arrested him on August 20. According to the complaint, the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had received information in January 2026 about a ring targeting the elderly in the Western New York District and other parts of the US. This gang used internet and phones to carry out their activities.
Fraud done by pretending to be an officer
The accused allegedly told the elderly that their bank accounts, money or personal information were in danger. They then pretended to be law enforcement officers or other officials and convinced the victims to exchange their assets for cash, gold, or gift cards. The Justice Department said the conspirators allegedly used 'money mules' (people who move money or valuables from one place to another) in cases involving cash or gold. These people used to take cash or gold from the victims and deliver it to other people involved in the conspiracy.
Arrested on money mule charges
The investigation alleged that Goswami, acting as a 'money mule', played a direct role in accepting cash and gold from elderly victims in New York and New Jersey. He did this at least nine times. According to the complaint, the nine victims, aged 59 to 87, suffered a total loss of approximately US$7.5 million. The complaint also states that Goswami opened a bank account in the US and deposited more than US $ 90,000 in cash between August 1, 2025 and April 6, 2026.
What is mule account?
Money Mule Accounts are such bank accounts which are used by cyber fraud criminals to transfer money. Whereas the owner of these accounts is someone else. But someone else uses them. Due to strict government rules, these criminals avoid using their accounts. And they make victims of such people who have less knowledge about these rules.