Post by : Shakul

An Indian-origin executive, Karan Gupta, has been convicted in the United States for defrauding his employer of nearly $1.2 million by hiring a “ghost employee.” Gupta worked as a senior director of data analytics at Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.

According to investigators, Gupta hired a lifelong friend in 2015 using a fake resume. After securing the job, the friend did virtually no work for almost four years, rarely logged into the company system, and had minimal contact with colleagues. Despite this, he continued to receive a high salary, annual raises, and bonuses.

Authorities revealed that more than half of the friend’s salary was secretly sent back to Gupta as kickbacks. The money was initially withdrawn in cash in New Jersey and later deposited so Gupta could access it in California. Eventually, the friend handed over his debit card, allowing Gupta to directly withdraw funds from ATMs.

The fraud came to light after Gupta was fired by Optum in 2019 in connection with another internal issue. The company then referred the matter to federal agencies. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which stated that Gupta abused his position of trust for personal gain.

Federal prosecutors said the case highlights how insider authority can be misused to exploit corporate systems. Gupta now faces serious legal consequences for fraud and money laundering conspiracy, bringing an end to a scheme that quietly drained company funds for years.

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