Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Former Optum Director Sentenced for $950,000 Fraud Scheme
Karan Gupta used his job at Optum to help a friend get paid for work he allegedly did not do.
The friend, Shangraf Kaul, received a large salary from Optum.
Prosecutors said Kaul sent about 60% of that money back to Gupta.
The arrangement reportedly lasted from 2015 to 2020.
The company lost more than $950,000.
Optum fired Gupta after finding evidence of similar fraud.
The FBI investigated the case.
Gupta was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison, while Kaul is waiting to be sentenced.
Karan Gupta, a 48-year-old former Optum senior director, received a 36-month US prison sentence.
Prosecutors said Gupta arranged a no-show job for longtime friend Shangraf Kaul from 2015 to 2020.
Kaul allegedly received a six-figure salary without performing work and returned about 60% to Gupta as kickbacks.
The scheme allegedly defrauded Optum of more than $950,000 through concealed payments.
A federal jury convicted Gupta of wire-fraud and money-laundering conspiracy charges; Kaul has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
- Who
- Karan Gupta, a former Optum senior director, and his longtime friend Shangraf Kaul.
- What
- A no-show employee scheme that prosecutors said defrauded Optum of more than $950,000.
- When
- The alleged scheme ran from 2015 to 2020; Gupta was convicted on February 17, 2026, and sentenced to 36 months on August 24.
- Where
- The case was prosecuted in the United States; Gupta was based in Walnut Creek, California.
- Why
- Prosecutors said Gupta arranged the job and received kickbacks from Kaul's salary.
- Defendant
- Karan Gupta, 48, a former senior director at Optum
- Prison sentence
- 36 months
- Estimated loss
- More than $950,000
- Alleged arrangement
- Kaul allegedly held a no-show position and returned approximately 60% of his salary to Gupta
- Gupta's convictions
- One count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering
- Co-conspirator
- Shangraf Kaul pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is awaiting sentencing
- Investigation
- Optum referred the case to federal law enforcement after terminating Gupta in November 2019