"The two men, Shray Goel, 37, of Calabasas and his cousin, Shaunik Raheja, 36, of Denver, primarily targeted rental guests perceived to be Black for cancellations, according to the federal superseding indictment, although they did not plead guilty to that allegation."
""Airbnb is built on trust, and bad actors have no place in our community. We supported the US Attorney's Office and the FBI throughout their investigation to help ensure those responsible are held accountable, and we are thankful for their work.""
"The business created by Goel and Raheja operated under various names, including Abbot Pacific LLC and Jet Set Work LLC, according to prosecutors."
Two cousins, Shray Goel and Shaunik Raheja, pleaded guilty to a nationwide rental scam that generated $8.5 million through fraudulent bookings. They used fake identities, fabricated reviews, and last-minute cancellations to double-book properties across the country. The indictment also alleged racial discrimination, as they disproportionately targeted Black guests for cancellations, although they did not plead guilty to those charges. Their operation, which began in 2013, involved listings on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo under various business names.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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