Jersey City, New Jersey, USA: An Indian national has been arrested in connection with an alleged multi-million-dollar fraud scheme that targeted elderly people in the United States.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, 21, originally from Gujarat, India, and living in Jersey City, New Jersey, allegedly worked as a “money mule” for the fraud network. Investigators allege that the wider scheme convinced elderly victims that their bank accounts, funds or personal information had been compromised.
The suspects allegedly posed as law enforcement officers or other officials and intimidated victims into handing over cash, gold and gift cards. Goswami allegedly collected cash and gold from elderly victims and delivered them to other members of the group.
Authorities said Goswami was involved in the collection of money or gold from at least nine elderly victims in New York and New Jersey, whose ages ranged from 59 to 87. The victims reportedly lost approximately $7.56 million in total.
Investigators also found that Goswami deposited more than $90,000 in cash into a Bank of America account between August 1, 2025, and April 6, 2026. Authorities said the deposits were consistent with payments he allegedly received for his role as a money mule.
Goswami appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge on August 17, 2026, and was released under conditions. The following day, authorities say he crossed into Canada through the Peace Bridge and later booked a flight from Toronto to Doha, Qatar.
The U.S. Probation Office subsequently sought action against him, and Canadian authorities took him into custody at Toronto Pearson International Airport. On August 20, Canadian authorities arrested Goswami following a U.S. request for provisional arrest as the extradition process gets underway.
Goswami faces charges including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
The U.S. Department of Justice has emphasized that the charges are allegations. Goswami is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
