Indian-origin man in US faces 15 years in prison for moonlighting

New York: An Indian origin man in New York, working for the New York State Office remotely, faces up to 15 years in prison for simultaneously working as a contractor, NDTV reported.

Mehul Goswami was serving the New York State Office of Information Technology Services when he started moonlighting as a contractor for GlobalFoundries-- a semiconductor company-- in Malta from March 2022.

Following investigation by the New York State Inspector General's Office and the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office, the 39-year-old was charged with "grand larceny".

It is reported citing the US media that Goswami's illegal conduct was tantamount to the misuse of $50,000 in taxpayer money.

Investigation began after an anonymous email accused Goswmi of working for a private employer during the hours he was meant to serve as a state employee.

Inspector General Lucy Lang reportedly said: ‘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’.

Arrested on October 15, he faces grand larceny in the second degree, which is a serious class C felony in New York carrying a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

A Times Union report confirmed that Goswami worked as a project coordinator for the state, earning $117,891 in 2024.

Appearing at the Malta Town Court, he was released without a bail just as the case is underway; charges against Goswami, according to the updated New York state law, are not considered a qualifying offence for bail.