Mehul Goswami, a 39-year-old Indian-origin tech professional, has been arrested in the United States for allegedly defrauding the New York State government by “moonlighting” – holding a private job during his official work hours.
According to US media reports, Goswami was charged with second-degree grand larceny, a Class C felony in New York that carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Who is Mehul Goswami?
Based in New York, Goswami worked as a project coordinator for the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS). His official salary in 2024 was $117,891 (approx. ₹98 million).
While employed full-time by the state government — reportedly working remotely — Goswami reportedly began a second full-time job in March 2022 as a contractor with GlobalFoundries, a major semiconductor company based in Malta, New York.
Investigators say Goswami’s actions led to the misuse of more than $50,000 in taxpayer funds.
How the case came to light
The investigation began after officials received an anonymous email claiming that Goswami was working for a private company during the same hours he was supposed to be performing his government duties.
A joint investigation by the New York State Office of Inspector General and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office concluded that Goswami “doubled” taxpayer time.
“Public servants are entrusted with the responsibility to serve with integrity, and Goswami’s alleged conduct is a serious breach of that trust,” Inspector General Lucy Lang said, as quoted by CBS 6 News.
She added: “Working a second full-time job while claiming to work for the state is a misuse of public resources, including taxpayer dollars.”
Legal actions and court appearances
Goswami was arrested on October 15 and charged with grand theft. Later that week, he appeared before Judge James A Fauci in Malta Municipal Court and was released without bail because the offense is not classified as bailable under New York law.
Inspector General Lang said her office will continue to work with law enforcement to “hold accountable anyone who would compromise the integrity of public service in New York State.”
The Moonshine Debate
The case has reignited the debate over moonlighting — the practice of taking on multiple jobs at the same time, especially in the telecommuting era.
While some companies tolerate secondary employment, others say it raises serious ethical and productivity concerns, particularly in government or sensitive technology roles.
