NEW YORK—US authorities have charged an Indian-origin man with a serious felony after a joint investigation revealed he was allegedly working two full-time, simultaneous jobs, resulting in the theft of over $50,000 in taxpayer money.
The Accused and the Scheme
* Accused: Mehul Goswami (39), a resident of Latham, New York, who was employed as a Project Coordinator.
* Primary Employer: Goswami worked remotely for the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS). His official state salary in 2024 was reported to be $117,891.
* Second Job: In March 2022, he allegedly took on a second full-time position as a contractor for GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor company located in Malta, New York.
* The Allegation: Investigators found that Goswami was performing work for the private company during the exact hours he was scheduled to be working for the state government. This dual-employment, commonly known as 'moonlighting,' allegedly led to the theft of more than $50,000 in state funds.
Investigation and Charges
The arrest followed a collaborative effort between the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office and the New York State Inspector General's Office. The probe was reportedly triggered by an anonymous email tip-off.
Goswami was arrested on October 15 and charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. This is classified as a Class C felony in New York, which carries a maximum prison sentence of up to 15 years.
New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang strongly condemned the actions, stating that the conduct represents a "serious breach of that trust" and an "abuse of public resources, including taxpayer dollars".
Goswami was arraigned in Malta Town Court and subsequently released on his own recognizance (without bail). Under New York State's revised bail laws, the charges pressed against him are not considered a qualifying offense for bail. The case is currently pending further legal proceedings.
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