iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
A Somerset County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for orchestrating a $2 million Covid-19 fraud scheme, US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced this week.
Guaravjit “Raj” Singh, 27, of Montgomery, New Jersey, had pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in September 2021 by videoconference before US District Court Judge Peter G. Sheridan, who imposed the sentence on July 20 in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in the court, Singh engaged in a scheme to defraud and to enrich himself by fraudulently inducing 10 victims to send him over $2 million to obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) and then stealing the money and not providing the PPE to the victims as promised. His fraud began in May 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A Department of Justice release said, “Singh induced victims to enter into an agreement pursuant to which Singh would be paid approximately $7.1 million for approximately 1.5 million medical gowns, which ultimately were to be sourced to the city of New York amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The victims wired Singh, though his company GJS Solutions LLC, $712,500, representing a 10 percent initial deposit for the medical gowns. After receiving these funds from the victims, Singh made additional misrepresentations and excuses to the victims, ensuring them that they would receive the medical gowns. Instead of purchasing and delivering medical gowns, Singh used the funds for personal expenses.”
In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Singh to three years of supervised release.
US Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and intelligence analysts of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government was represented by Assistant US Attorney Lauren E. Repole, chief of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
Indian-origin man in New Jersey jailed for $2 million Covid equipment wire fraud
