Cash, gold & elderly victims: How Indian-origin man became 'money mule' in $7.5m US scam

An Indian national has been arrested and charged in the United States for his alleged role as a “money mule” in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme targeting elderly victims, according to the US Justice Department.Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, 21, a native of Gujarat who lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, was arrested in Canada while allegedly attempting to flee to Qatar.He faces charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, US Attorney Michael DiGiacomo said.The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York.However, the criminal complaint contains allegations, and Goswami is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.Goswami allegedly collected cash, gold from elderly victimsAccording to the criminal complaint, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division learned in January 2026 of an internet- and telephone-based fraud scheme targeting elderly people in the…