Indian-Origin Public Employee In US Charged With Grand Larceny For Working Two Jobs In Secret
The 39-year old's illegal conduct was tantamount to the misuse of the $50,000 in taxpaer money, according to statements from public authorities.
US law enforcement arrested Mehul Goswami, an Indian origin man working for the New York State Office on charges of grand larceny for moonlighting as a contractor.
Reports on Thursday stated that Goswami was working as a contractor for a semiconductor company in Malta in March 2022 in addition to his primary job which was remote work for the New York State Office of Information Technology Services.
The 39-year old's illegal conduct was tantamount to the misuse of the $50,000 in taxpayer money, according to statements from public authorities.
“Public employees are entrusted with the responsibility to serve with integrity, and Mr. Goswami’s alleged conduct represents a serious breach of that trust,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang.
“Working a second, full-time job while claiming to be working for the State is an abuse of public resources, including taxpayer dollars," she added.
According to the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office, Goswami worked for the semiconductor company during the same time he was working for the New York State Office.
The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and the state Inspector General’s office undertook a joint investigation into the matter after which Goswami was arrested.
He was charged with grand larceny in the second degree, which is a serious class C felony in New York and carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Goswami appeared in Malta Town Court in the week and was released without bail while the case remained ongoing.
“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,” Lang said after he was arrested.
She exhorted the importance of public officials not taking advantage of their positions to betray public trust and funnel essential resources meant for citizens.
