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Indian-origin businessman convicted in UK PPE scam
Prosecutors said the defendants diverted millions of dollars meant for PPE supplies to finance a lavish lifestyle.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 24, Jul 2026
- 15:24 EDT
- 18
Jogesh Bhandari / nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk
An Indian-origin businessman was convicted in the United Kingdom for defrauding businesses in a multimillion-dollar PPE scam during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jogesh Bhandari, 59, of Loughborough, was found guilty alongside Craig Morris, 43, following a five-week trial at Leicester Crown Court after an investigation by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA).
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Bhandari's wife, Meenakashi (Meena) Bhandari, 58, was also convicted of money laundering. The three are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21.
A group who fraudulently claimed to be able to provide PPE during the pandemic but instead spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on house renovations and luxury cars have been convicted after a NCA investigation.
— National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) July 15, 2026
Read the full story ️ https://t.co/nGSMEW25CW pic.twitter.com/QWGGrpG5kb
According to the NCA, Bhandari controlled a company established in 2020 to trade nitrile gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of supplying PPE, the group used forged financial documents and false claims about its financial resources to persuade businesses to transfer millions of dollars for glove shipments that were never delivered.
Authorities said Bhandari worked with Frank Labruzzo, a former assistant attorney general in Louisiana, who provided a fraudulent escrow service. Labruzzo has already been convicted in the United States.
The fraud began in November 2020 with a deal to supply 12 million boxes of gloves, with money transferred out of escrow almost immediately, investigators said. In another deal the following month, Bhandari received an additional $2.7 million, nearly $500,000 of which was used to pay off personal debts. In early 2021, he received more than $3.18 million for nitrile gloves intended for U.S. hospitals that were never supplied. Later that year, another supplier paid $1.35 million after Bhandari falsely claimed to have deposited $35 million as security for a PPE contract worth $1.8 billion.
Investigators said proceeds from the scheme were used to fund a lavish lifestyle. The NCA said Bhandari paid Morris £200,000, purchased a new Porsche worth £126,000, financed extensive home renovations, and bought Rolex watches, jewelry, an Audi A5, a Land Rover Discovery, a Volkswagen Golf, and luxury travel. None of the money was used for its intended purpose.
The investigation uncovered more than 47,000 WhatsApp messages and emails exchanged by the defendants. In one message, Morris wrote, "All over the news is all about PPE shortage. Let's clean up!! Milk it... fill ya boots."
Bhandari replied, "[thumbs up] it's about a good teamwork and EVERYONE making money." In another exchange, Bhandari sent Morris an image of a Rolls-Royce, writing, "But if I want one of these [Rolls Royce] then we need to keep going."
Meena Bhandari was convicted of money laundering after investigators concluded she knew the funds passing through the business account originated from her husband's fraudulent activity.
Paul Boniface, operations manager at the National Crime Agency, said the defendants exploited the global shortage of PPE during the pandemic for personal gain.
"The Covid-19 pandemic was a time of uncertainty for the world, and the increased need for PPE equipment was sudden. This gave fraudsters like the Bhandaris and Morris an opportunity to target businesses and line their own pockets," Boniface said.
He added, "Bhandari and his co-conspirators capitalised on these vulnerabilities by exploiting people and businesses for their own financial gain, paying for lavish lifestyles of luxury cars and significant home improvements."
Boniface said the fraud diverted essential PPE away from legitimate organizations and caused wider economic harm, adding that the NCA "will continue to target fraudsters like these who cause significant harm to the UK economy."
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