Overview
- A federal jury in Minneapolis found Karan Gupta guilty after a six-day trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, ten counts of wire fraud, and money-laundering conspiracy before Judge Kate M. Menendez.
- Prosecutors said Gupta used a falsified résumé to place an unqualified lifelong friend in a managerial role in 2015, then supervised him as he performed no meaningful work for nearly four years while drawing a six-figure salary.
- Kickbacks were routed to Gupta through cash deposits and a checking account debit card the friend mailed to him, enabling withdrawals from ATMs in California.
- The losses to Optum exceeded $1.2 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which noted the company uncovered the scheme after firing Gupta in November 2019 for separate misconduct and then alerted federal authorities.
- Co‑conspirator Shangraf Kaul pleaded guilty in 2025 under a plea agreement, and Gupta’s sentencing has not yet been scheduled.