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high-profile Indian-American couple in North Texas, known for their flashy lifestyle and Bollywood-style performances, has been arrested on charges of running a multimillion-dollar real estate scam. The couple, Sidhartha "Sammy" Mukherjee and his wife Sunita, allegedly convinced over 100 investors to part with at least $4 million by promising investments in non-existent projects.
The couple's scheme involved hosting charity events and presenting themselves as successful businesspeople to gain people's trust. However, their public image was a facade to cover up their illicit activities. The victims claimed they were deceived into investing in what they thought were legitimate real estate deals, only to find out that the promised returns were fake.
The scam was exposed when Euless Police Detective Brian Brennan took on the case after a couple approached him claiming they had lost $325,000. Investigators found that the Mukherjees provided fake documents, including remodelling contracts and invoices from the Dallas Housing Authority, to convince investors to invest in non-existent projects. The FBI is now involved, and forensic accountants estimate victim losses to exceed $4 million.
The couple's alleged deception extended beyond real estate, involving a fake company and fictitious employees to obtain a federal loan. They also scammed elderly individuals by threatening them with arrest and convincing them to send money to law enforcement. Detective Brennan described Sammy Mukherjee as "probably the most prolific fraudster" he had seen in his 23-year career.
Sammy and Sunita Mukherjee face serious charges, including first-degree felony theft, which carries a potential sentence of 5 to 99 years in prison if convicted. After posting a $500,000 bond, Sammy Mukherjee was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The couple's immigration status is unclear, with records showing that Sammy Mukherjee has outstanding fraud warrants in Mumbai.
