Indian National Arrested for Alleged Role in $7.5 Million Elder Scam

Arrest and Charges

Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, a 21-year-old Indian national residing in Jersey City, has been arrested on charges related to his alleged involvement as a money mule for an overseas cyber scam operation. He faces charges of wire fraud and money laundering, which carry a potential sentence of 20 years in prison.

The Scam Operation

Prosecutors state that Goswami facilitated the transfer of over $7.5 million from at least nine victims in New York and New Jersey. The scammers, based in India, contacted victims via phone or email, impersonating law enforcement or government officials. They convinced victims to empty bank accounts and hand over funds, often by claiming their names were linked to drug cases or that their information had been stolen. Victims were instructed to provide cash, gold bars, or gift cards.

Goswami's Role and Attempted Escape

Goswami's role involved picking up money and gold from victims and transporting it to different locations for transfer to India. He allegedly earned approximately $90,000 from the scheme. After an initial detention in December 2025 and subsequent release, he continued working with the scammers. He was arrested again on August 17, released on pretrial detention, and then attempted to flee the country by driving to Canada. He was apprehended by Canadian authorities at Toronto Pearson International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Doha and is awaiting extradition to the U.S.

Victims and Evidence

The majority of the identified victims in the criminal complaint are in their 70s and 80s, collectively losing $7,559,185. Evidence, including text messages and emails, indicates Goswami was aware of the illegal nature of the operation, despite his initial claims of ignorance.