Indian Man Faces 15-Year Prison Sentence for $50,000 Moonlighting Scheme While Working Remotely for New York State

An anonymous email reportedly initiated an investigation against Mehul Goswami, leading to serious legal consequences.

Mehul Goswami, a 39-year-old Indian-origin resident of New York, was apprehended by US authorities on "grand larceny" charges for simultaneously working as a contractor while employed by the New York State Office of Information Technology Services.

According to US media reports, a joint investigation conducted by the New York State Inspector General's Office and the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office determined that Goswami's unauthorized activities resulted in the misappropriation of approximately $50,000 in taxpayer funds.

While Goswami was reportedly working remotely for the New York State Office as his primary employment, he concurrently began working as a contractor for GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor company located in Malta, starting in March 2022.

The investigation against Goswami was reportedly triggered by an anonymous email alleging that he was working for a private employer during the same hours he was expected to be performing his duties as a state employee.

Inspector General Lucy Lang stated, "Public employees are entrusted with the responsibility to serve with integrity, and Goswami's alleged conduct represents a serious breach of that trust. Working a second, full-time job while claiming to be working for the State is an abuse of public resources, including taxpayer dollars," according to CBS 6 news.

On October 15, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office arrested Goswami for grand larceny in the second degree, classified as a class C felony in New York, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment.

Goswami later appeared before Judge James A Fauci in the Malta Town Court and was released without bail as the case proceeds. Under revised New York state legislation, the charges against Goswami are not considered qualifying offenses for bail requirements.

Inspector General Lang further commented, "My office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold anyone accountable who would undermine the integrity of public service in New York State."

A Times Union report indicated that Goswami was employed as a project coordinator for the state with an annual salary of $117,891 in 2024. His case has sparked renewed discussions about the ethics of moonlighting in remote work environments.