(Image source from: Hindustantimes.com)
Mehul Goswami, a 39-year-old New Yorker from India, was arrested by US officials. He is accused of "grand larceny" because he secretly worked as a contractor while also employed by the New York State Office of Information Technology Services. An investigation by the New York State Inspector General's Office and the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office found that Goswami's unlawful actions wasted $50,000 of public money. Goswami's main job was working remotely for the New York State Office. However, starting in March 2022, he also took a job as a contractor for GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor company in Malta.
An anonymous email led to the investigation of Goswami. The email claimed he was working for a private company at the same time he was supposed to be working for the state. Inspector General Lucy Lang stated that public employees must act honestly, and Goswami's alleged behavior was a serious betrayal of that trust. She added that holding a second full-time job while still claiming to work for the state is a misuse of public funds, including taxpayer money.
The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office took Goswami into custody for major theft, a severe felony in New York that could lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years. He was released without having to pay bail after appearing before Judge James A Fauci in the Malta Town Court later that week, as the case continued. Based on current New York state laws, the crimes Goswami is accused of do not require bail. Lang stated that his office will keep collaborating with police to punish anyone who harms the trustworthiness of public service in New York. A report from the Times Union indicates that Goswami was a project coordinator for the state, making $117,891 in 2024. His situation has brought back discussions about working a second job while in a remote position.
