A well-known couple, Bollywood singers Sidhartha “Sammy” Mukherjee and his wife Sunita, have been arrested for allegedly running a massive fraud scheme. Federal investigators say the pair defrauded nearly 100 victims out of over $4 million.
A Web of Deceit
Victims claim the Mukherjees portrayed themselves as successful businesspeople, convincing them to invest in fake real estate projects promising huge returns. However, dividend checks bounced, and many of the projects never even existed. One couple lost $325,000 and contacted seasoned investigator Brian Brennan, who uncovered the vast scale of the operation.
Fake Permits and Fictitious Employees
Brennan’s investigation revealed that the Mukherjees’ “permits” for their remodeling projects were completely fabricated. He described the level of forged paperwork, receipts, and emails as a “full-time job.” The fraud extended beyond real estate. The couple allegedly created a fake company with invented employees to fraudulently obtain federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Sammy Mukherjee denied knowing the names of employees listed on the application.
Targeting the Elderly and Beyond
The Mukherjees also targeted elderly victims through threatening emails demanding money to avoid arrest. The stolen funds were reportedly used to support their lavish lifestyle.
A Prolific Criminal
Investigator Brennan, with 23 years of experience, called Sammy Mukherjee “the most prolific fraudster” he’d ever encountered, noting the scheme’s widespread reach. There are also outstanding fraud warrants for Mukherjee in his hometown of Mumbai, India. Sadly, most of the stolen money is likely gone.