Key Takeaways
- Jogesh and Meenakashi Bhandari, an Indian‑origin couple, were convicted in the UK for fraud and money‑laundering linked to fake COVID‑19 PPE sales.
- Their associate Craig Morris was also found guilty of facilitating the fraudulent deals.
- The scheme relied on forged bank statements, letters of attestation and a bogus escrow service to convince suppliers they could supply millions of nitrile gloves.
- Money obtained was diverted to luxury purchases: Rolexes, jewellery, high‑end cars (Porsche, Audi, Land Rover, VW), home renovations and overseas holidays.
- Four major transactions (Nov 2020, Dec 2020, early 2021 and a massive late‑2021 deal) generated over £5 million of illicit proceeds.
- Frank Labruzzo, a US Assistant Attorney General who supplied the fraudulent escrow letter, has already been convicted in the United States.
- Sentencing is scheduled for 21 August; the NCA stresses that such fraud diverts essential equipment from genuine buyers and harms the UK economy.
Conviction of the Bhandari Couple and Their Associate
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) secured convictions against Jogesh Bhandari, 59, and his wife Meenakashi (Meena) Bhandari, 58, for a series of fraud and money‑laundering offences committed during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The couple, of Indian origin, posed as legitimate suppliers of personal protective equipment (PPE) and used that façade to obtain millions of pounds from unsuspecting businesses. After a lengthy investigation, they were found guilty on multiple counts, including fraud, conspiracy to defraud, and laundering the proceeds. Their sentencing is scheduled for 21 August, when the court will determine the penalties for the scheme that exploited a global health crisis for personal gain.
The Role of Craig Morris in the Scheme
Craig Morris, 43, a close associate of the Bhandaris, was also convicted for his role in facilitating the fraudulent deals. Morris acted as the couple’s representative in numerous transactions during 2020 and 2021, communicating with potential suppliers and negotiating terms on behalf of the Bhandari‑controlled company. His testimony and electronic communications revealed that he knowingly participated in moving funds that were never intended to be used for purchasing gloves. The NCA highlighted Morris’s assistance as crucial to the scheme’s ability to appear credible, allowing the fraudsters to maintain the illusion of a genuine PPE trading operation.
Fabricated Documentation and False Claims of PPE Supply
Central to the fraud was the production of forged documents designed to convince victims that the Bhandaris possessed vast financial resources and the capacity to deliver large volumes of nitrile gloves. The NCA uncovered bank statements that falsely showed balances of up to $125 million, as well as letters of attestation from purported financial institutions. These documents were presented to suppliers as proof of creditworthiness and ability to fulfil orders. In reality, the company had no actual inventory or legitimate source of PPE; the paperwork was fabricated solely to induce advance payments that could be siphoned off for personal use.
First Fraudulent Transaction – November 2020
The first fraudulent transaction occurred in November 2020, when the Bhandaris agreed to supply 12 million boxes of nitrile gloves to a buyer. The purchaser transferred payment into an escrow account that was supposed to hold the funds until delivery. Instead, the money was moved almost immediately, with portions paid to Frank Labruzzo (the alleged escrow agent), Jogesh Bhandari, and various shell companies. This rapid diversion prevented any genuine procurement of gloves and marked the beginning of a pattern where incoming funds were quickly redirected to personal accounts.
Second Transaction and Debt Repayment – December 2020
A month later, in December 2020, a second deal brought an additional $2.7 million into the escrow account. Roughly $500 000 of that sum was withdrawn almost straight away to settle personal debts owed by Jogesh and Meenakashi Bhandari. The remaining funds followed the same trajectory as the first payment, being funneled through the fraudulent escrow mechanism and subsequently used for luxury purchases. The NCA’s bank‑record analysis showed a clear link between these withdrawals and the couple’s growing expenditure on high‑end goods and services.
Third Transaction – Undelivered US Hospital Order – Early 2021
In early 2021, the Bhandaris secured a contract allegedly worth $3.18 million for the delivery of nitrile gloves to hospitals in the United States. The buyer, believing the suppliers could meet the order, transferred the funds into the designated account. However, the gloves were never shipped, and the money was promptly diverted. This transaction illustrated the scale of the deception: the couple continued to accept large sums while providing no tangible product, further enriching themselves at the expense of healthcare providers desperately seeking protective equipment during the pandemic’s peak.
Final Massive Deal and Fraudulent Escrow – Late 2021
The most audacious scheme unfolded in late 2021, when Jogesh Bhandari portrayed himself as a major player in the global PPE market, claiming access to hundreds of millions of dollars. A supplier agreed to a purported $1.8 billion contract for glove shipments. To secure the deal, Frank Labruzzo supplied a fraudulent letter stating that Bhandari had deposited $35 million as security for the first delivery. Relying on this false assurance, the buyer transferred $1.35 million for the initial two shipments. The funds were routed directly into a business account controlled by Meenakashi Bhandari, from which the couple purchased a new Porsche, financed a kitchen refurbishment, and made extensive improvements to their residence.
Lavish Spending, Asset Purchases, and Upcoming Sentencing
Beyond the vehicle and home upgrades, the NCA’s forensic accounting revealed that the Bhandaris spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on Rolexes, other luxury watches, jewellery, an Audi A5, a Land Rover Discovery, a VW Golf, and numerous overseas holiday packages. None of the money obtained through the fraudulent PPE contracts was ever used to purchase or distribute protective equipment; instead, it financed a lavish lifestyle. Frank Labruzzo, who acted as the fraudulent escrow agent, has already been convicted in the United States for his part in the scheme. With sentencing set for 21 August, the NCA warns that such fraud not only steals money but also diverts essential supplies away from legitimate buyers, undermining public‑health efforts and damaging the wider UK economy.