Indian-Origin New Yorker arrested for $50,000 fraud after moonlighting as contractor while on State job

A 39-year-old Indian-origin IT employee in New York has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the state of $50,000 by secretly working a second full-time job at a private firm while employed by a government department.

Indian-origin tech professional Mehul Goswami, 39, has been arrested in New York for allegedly defrauding the state of $50,000 by moonlighting as a contractor while being employed full-time with the New York State Office of Information Technology Services.

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A joint investigation by the New York State Inspector General’s Office and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Goswami’s actions amounted to a serious misuse of taxpayer money. The probe found that while working remotely for the state, Goswami simultaneously accepted a full-time contracting role with GlobalFoundries, a major semiconductor company based in Malta, New York, in March 2022.

The investigation was reportedly triggered by an anonymous email alleging that Goswami was working for a private company during the same hours he was supposed to perform his state duties. Authorities determined that his conduct constituted a breach of public trust and an abuse of state resources.

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On October 15, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office arrested Goswami and charged him with grand larceny in the second degree, a Class C felony under New York law, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. He later appeared before Judge James A. Fauci in the Malta Town Court and was released without bail under the state’s updated bail laws, as the offence did not qualify for mandatory detention.

The case underscores growing concerns about public employees exploiting remote work systems for personal gain. Investigators stated that such misconduct erodes public confidence and wastes taxpayer money.

Authorities have confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors review additional evidence related to Goswami’s dual employment and financial conduct.