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Indian national arrested in Canada over U.S. elderly fraud
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
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Staff Reporter - Sat, 22, Aug 2026
- 01:07 EDT
- 27
Indian national arrested in Canada over U.S. elderly fraud / Unsplash
A 21-year-old Indian national has been arrested and charged for allegedly acting as a money mule in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the U.S.
Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, who is from Gujarat and lives in Jersey City, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Aug. 21.
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The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, in January 2026, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division became aware of an internet- and telephone-based fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims in the Western District of New York and other areas around the country.
Those responsible for the scheme fraudulently represented to victims, online and in phone calls, that their bank accounts, funds and/or personally identifiable information (PII) were threatened or compromised in some manner.
Elderly victims were convinced to liquidate their assets in the form of cash, gold and/or gift cards. The perpetrators would then pose as either members of law enforcement or other pertinent figures to further their scheme to defraud elderly individuals.
When the scheme involved either cash or gold, the perpetrators arranged for “money mules” to pick up the cash or gold from the victims and then deliver it to another member of the conspiracy.
Goswami was a money mule. On at least nine occasions, he either personally collected or conspired to collect cash and gold from elderly victims in New York and New Jersey, the Justice Department said in a statement.
The victims ranged in age from 59 to 87. In total, the nine victims lost approximately $7,559,185.
The criminal complaint further states that Goswami opened an account at Bank of America. Between Aug. 1, 2025, and April 6, 2026, he made cash deposits totaling more than $90,000.
Investigators believe the deposits are consistent with Goswami receiving compensation for acting as a money mule in the fraudulent scheme.
Goswami made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen on Aug. 17, 2026, and was released on conditions. On Aug. 18, 2026, at approximately 10:25 a.m., he fled the United States by crossing into Canada at the Peace Bridge.
Law enforcement subsequently learned that Goswami was booked on a flight to Doha, Qatar, out of Toronto, Ontario, later that evening. The U.S. Probation Office submitted a Violation Report of Defendant Under Pretrial Supervision to the court, which issued an order and warrant of arrest.
At approximately 7:13 p.m., Canadian law enforcement officials took Goswami into custody pursuant to Canadian immigration violations at Toronto Pearson International Airport. On Aug. 20, Canadian authorities arrested Goswami pursuant to a request for provisional arrest for extradition to the United States.
The fraud case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis Jr., New York Field Division.
Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Police, the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, the statement said.
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