New Delhi: Indian-American businessman Rishi Shah, 38, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for a fraud of a whopping Rs 8300 crores. The Chicago billionaire’s conviction stems from orchestrating a $1 billion fraud scheme at Outcome Health, a startup in the advertising industry. The scandal sent shockwaves through major entities such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Alphabet Inc. (Google’s parent company), and a venture capital firm associated with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

According to a Bloomberg report, Outcome Health was conceived by Shah during his university years. Originally named Context Media Health, the company was established in 2006 with a vision to revolutionise medical advertising by installing televisions in doctors’ offices to broadcast health-related ads targeted at patients. Shah’s co-founder, Shradha Agrawal, joined him in this project, and the company quickly gained momentum, rapidly increasing its valuation as it aimed to bridge the communication gap between patients and healthcare providers through innovative advertising placements.

By the mid-2010s, Outcome Health had become a prominent player in the technology and healthcare investment sectors. Its promise of integrating advanced technology into traditional healthcare marketing strategies attracted investments from high-profile investors. Outcome Health secured substantial funding during its rapid ascent and built a large client base, positioning Shah as a rising star within Chicago’s corporate community.

Shah, along with Outcome Health co-founders Shradha Agarwal and Brad Purdy, faced multiple fraud and money laundering charges following a federal jury’s conviction last year. US District Judge Thomas Durkin presided over their sentencing in Chicago last week, as announced by the US Attorney’s Office on Monday.

Prosecutors had initially sought a 15-year sentence for Shah, portraying him as the central figure behind a web of deceit that spanned clients, lenders, investors, and auditors. The trio was accused of deceiving pharmaceutical clients by accepting payments for advertisements that were never delivered, while misleading investors about the company’s financial health.

Outcome Health, originally known as Context Media Health, surged in prominence for placing ads on TVs in doctors’ offices. However, its purported rapid growth was fueled by fraudulent practices, including overstating its network size and ad placement capabilities. The scheme inflated revenue figures and facilitated substantial personal wealth extraction for Shah, allowing him to fund a luxurious lifestyle that included private yachts, jets, and a multimillion-dollar residence.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri underscored the severity of the executives’ actions, pointing out that such deceptive practices are unacceptable in any business context. Shah acknowledged his mismanagement and expressed remorse during the sentencing, admitting to fostering a corporate culture that condoned falsifying data.

In a parallel civil case, investors including Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Alphabet Inc., and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s venture capital firm accused Outcome Health of fraud related to a $487.5 million fundraising effort in 2017. The company’s misleading financial statements allegedly enabled Shah and Agarwal to pocket a $225 million dividend.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission also pursued legal action against Shah, Agarwal, Purdy, and former chief growth officer Ashik Desai, asserting they utilised falsified financial records to secure investments. Desai and two other Outcome Health employees had previously pleaded guilty concerning the case.