Gujarat Man Charged in US Over $7.5 Million Elder Fraud Scheme, Arrested in Canada

A 21-year-old Gujarat native has been arrested in Canada following allegations that he served as a money mule in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme targeting elderly people in the United States. Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, who previously lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, was detained at Toronto Pearson International Airport while allegedly attempting to travel to Qatar. US authorities have charged him with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Goswami was initially brought before a US magistrate judge on August 17 and released under certain conditions. The following day, he travelled to Canada, where authorities discovered that he had booked a flight from Toronto to Doha. Acting on a US request for provisional arrest pending extradition, Canadian authorities detained and arrested him on August 20. If convicted of the charges, he could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators uncovered an internet- and telephone-based fraud operation in January 2026 that allegedly targeted elderly victims in New York and other parts of the US. The suspects reportedly contacted victims by claiming that their bank accounts, funds or personal information had been compromised. Victims were allegedly persuaded to convert their assets into cash, gold or gift cards before being contacted by people posing as law enforcement officers or other officials.

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The alleged fraud network used money mules to collect valuables from victims and transfer them to other members of the operation. Goswami is accused of personally collecting or conspiring to collect cash and gold from elderly victims in New York and New Jersey on at least nine occasions. The victims identified in the complaint were between 59 and 87 years old, and authorities estimate that the nine individuals collectively lost about $7.5 million.

Investigators also allege that Goswami opened a US bank account and deposited more than $90,000 in cash between August 1, 2025, and April 6, 2026. Authorities believe the deposits were consistent with payments he allegedly received for his role as a money mule. The case is being pursued through the US legal system, while his detention in Canada could lead to extradition proceedings.

The allegations highlight the growing threat posed by organised scams that target elderly people through impersonation, telephone calls and online communication. Such schemes often rely on multiple participants to persuade victims to hand over valuable assets and then move the money or property through intermediaries. Goswami remains accused at this stage, and the charges against him will have to be established through legal proceedings.

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