Fled US for Canada, caught at Toronto airport: Indian citizen arrested in alleged $7.5 million elder fraud scheme

An Indian national based in New Jersey has been arrested in Canada after allegedly fleeing the US while on pretrial release in connection with a multi-million-dollar elder fraud scheme, the US Department of Justice said on Friday.

Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, 21, originally from Gujarat, was arrested by Canadian authorities at Toronto Pearson International Airport on August 20, 2026, following a US provisional arrest request linked to his extradition.

Goswami faces charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.


According to a criminal complaint announced by US Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, IRS Criminal Investigation uncovered a nationwide phone and internet scam in January 2026. The alleged perpetrators targeted elderly victims by claiming their bank accounts had been compromised and persuading them to convert assets into cash or gold.

Investigators allege Goswami worked as a "money mule", collecting cash and gold directly from victims aged between 59 and 87 in New York and New Jersey. At least nine victims were allegedly defrauded of about $7.56 million.

Financial records cited by investigators show Goswami deposited more than $90,000 in cash into a Bank of America account between August 2025 and April 2026. Investigators believe the money represented his compensation.

Goswami appeared in court on August 17 and was released under conditions. The next day, he allegedly crossed into Canada through the Peace Bridge and booked a flight from Toronto to Doha, Qatar.

Canadian authorities initially detained him at Pearson International Airport over alleged immigration violations before executing the US extradition arrest request.

The US Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs is working with Canadian authorities and the US Marshals Service to secure Goswami's extradition to the US.

The Justice Department stressed that the charges are allegations and that Goswami is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

"The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty," it said.

(With ANI inputs)