Sidhartha Mukherjee, popularly often called Sammy, and his spouse Sunita, an Indian couple in North Texas, who grew to become native celebrities due to their Bollywood-style performances, have been arrested for allegedly defrauding greater than 100 individuals in a faux funding scheme value over $4 million. Prosecutors mentioned they led a really glamorous life to realize individuals’s belief, hosted high-society occasions, Bollywood-style galas and have become charitable group figures. However at these occasions, they used to persuade individuals to spend money on actual property initiatives that by no means existed. “They are going to make you consider that they’re very profitable businesspeople,” alleged fraud sufferer Terry Parvaga advised CBS Information. “However they may take each single penny you’ve.” The investigation into the Mukherjees started almost two years in the past when Euless Police detective Brian Brennan agreed to tackle the case after a number of complaints from victims have been dismissed as civil disputes. Brennan advised the CBS Information {that a} couple claimed that they misplaced $325,000 in an alleged funding scheme.
Modus operandi of the Mukherjees
Buyers and alleged victims mentioned the Mukherjees offered them with transforming contracts and invoices from the Dallas Housing Authority that made them consider within the authenticity of his initiatives. However finally, it was discovered that these have been faux paperwork. In accordance with the affidavit for arrest, the Mukherjees used a faux firm with fictitious workers to use for a federal Paycheck Safety Program mortgage. An FBI agent met Sammy Mukherjee in the course of the investigation and requested him whether or not he acknowledges names like “Richard Jackson,” “Nikki Reynolds” and “Mike Summerville”. These have been individuals listed on a payroll kind that Mukherjee submitted as a part of the PPP mortgage utility, however he mentioned he didn’t know the,. “In [my] 23 years, [Sammy Mukherjee] might be probably the most prolific fraudster I’ve seen,” Brennan advised the CBS Information. “Tentacles stepping into all completely different instructions.”In Could, the Mukherjees hosted a charity gala with a Bollywood persona current, earlier than they have been arrested by the ICE.
Who’re the Mukherjees of Texas?
In accordance with paperwork, the couple got here to america from India looking for asylum. Their present immigration standing just isn’t recognized. The arrest affidavit mentioned Sammy Mukherjee has excellent fraud warrants in Mumbai. Within the native circle in Texas, Sammy is called a Bollywood singer. Sammy Mukgerejee denied all allegations and mentioned individuals have been defaming him as a result of they’re jealous of his success.