Two cousins from Southern California and Colorado pleaded guilty on April 14 to federal charges related to a nationwide online short-term rental booking scam. Shray Goel of Calabasas admitted guilt to one count of wire fraud, while Shaunik Raheja of Denver pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice.
The case highlights the risks associated with fraudulent activity on online property rental platforms, which can cause significant losses for both guests and companies. According to court documents, Goel and Raheja operated their business under several names since 2013, including Abbot Pacific LLC and Jet Set Work LLC, listing properties across various U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Nashville and Austin.
Prosecutors said that between October 2017 and November 2019 the defendants used fake host names and other people’s identities to conceal their involvement in double-booking schemes. They posted fabricated positive reviews about their listings and continued operations even after being banned by at least one platform due to repeated cancellations and guest complaints. The pair sometimes listed addresses that did not exist or were not affiliated with them in order to create duplicate listings or evade local regulations.
Their scheme involved posting multiple listings for the same property at different prices across platforms. After receiving bookings from several guests for the same dates, they would select which guest—if any—to accommodate based on who paid more. Guests denied accommodation were given false excuses such as plumbing problems before having their reservations canceled or switched at the last minute. Negative reviews left by affected guests were often countered with bogus negative feedback or removed entirely through new listing identifiers.
Raheja also admitted he lied in April 2023 during an investigation by federal authorities about his knowledge of intentional overbooking practices. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for August 14 for Goel—who faces up to twenty years in prison—and September 11 for Raheja—who faces up to ten years.
The FBI led the investigation alongside the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General and assistance from the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California focuses on prosecuting federal criminal cases like this one according to its official website. The office serves more than nineteen million residents across seven counties according to its official website.
E. Martin Estrada has held the position of United States Attorney for this district according to its official website. The office also supports community outreach programs focused on victim assistance and public education according to its official website, working closely with law enforcement partners at all levels according to its official website.
