Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in Los Angeles are investigating fake spy fraudster Gaurav Srivastava, who is facing criminal allegations of wire fraud, money laundering, and falsely representing himself as a US federal official and US citizen, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has revealed.
WSJ Exposé Uncovers Fraudulent Activities
In a comprehensive investigation, senior WSJ reporter Joe Wallace wrote in the sensational article “A Fake Spy, Russian Oil and $1 Million Funneled to Democrats” that Gaurav Srivastava, an Indian businessman now infamous for his ‘fake CIA agent’ scam, is under scrutiny for hijacking the US system and posing a threat to US national security through his fraudulent activity undertaken over several years.
Informed by legal documents, financial records, interviews, and recordings, the WSJ’s story paints a picture of a college dropout who blagged his way into the upper echelons of Washington’s political scene through a combination of bare-faced lies and stolen money.
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Srivastava, who met President Joe Biden and allegedly donated more than $1 million to the Democrats, all while claiming to be a clandestine operative of the CIA, is increasingly viewed as a national security threat in the US. A political storm is brewing on Capitol Hill as Republicans and others seek to understand how a green-card holder, born in Lucknow, India, can buy unchecked access into the highest echelons of the Democratic Party.
Targets and Victims of the Scam
Those conned by Srivastava – or ‘Mr G’, as he liked to be known – include General Wesley Clark, the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO; the Atlantic Council think tank; several Democratic fundraising committees; multiple Senators and Congressmen, including Senator Mark Warner and Representative Patrick Ryan; a Geneva-based commodities trader; several African leaders; and the President of Indonesia. Many of these individuals stepped away from Srivastava of their own accord after questioning his integrity, while others dropped him after the exposé on him.
The scam was originally reported in October 2023 by former Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bradley Hope in his investigative outlet, Project Brazen. Srivastava has repeatedly attempted to have all reporting of his activities removed from the public domain, including through a deceitful lawsuit against several publications in Pakistan and India and fraudulently-made attempts to have articles de-listed from Google under US copyright laws. This involved pasting the article’s text into a blog post on hosting sites like Tumblr or Medium, back-dating the posts, and filing a copyright complaint to Google to de-index the articles using aliases or fake names.
Building a Network of Influence and Deception
The WSJ reported how Srivastava sought to build a business that could profit from the close connections between commodities, intelligence, and security. Targeting developing countries and war zones, largely in Africa, Srivastava approached leaders and powerful intermediaries claiming to be a non-official cover (NOC) operative of the CIA who could support the development of their links to the US Government. Surrounding himself with powerful figures, including General Clark – who was a paid consultant – Srivastava built a picture of legitimacy that fooled leaders from Libya, where he had dealings with Russia-backed General Haftar, to Sudan, where he worked for General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, who is now facing allegations of war crimes.
While claiming to be a CIA agent in Africa, Srivastava presented himself in Washington, DC, as a well-connected American citizen who “hinted at some kind of relationship with the US Government” that could not be disclosed, according to Gen. Clark speaking to the WSJ. Political donations helped open doors, and a major donation of $1 million to the Atlantic Council for a food security event in fall 2023 lent him legitimacy. On March 2, 2024, Politico revealed that the Atlantic Council has terminated its relationship with Gaurav Srivastava, his wife Sharon, and their fake charitable organization “The Gaurav & Sharon Srivastava Family Foundation” after discovering that the Srivastavas had lied to the council to secure their partnership.
The Scam
The scam began to unravel after Niels Troost, a trader whom Srivastava was attempting to scam, grew suspicious. Troost found a trail of fraud allegations against him in the US and India, where his family business, the New Delhi-based Veecon Group, has a string of failed deals in the entertainment and security sectors.
Srivastava had been introduced to Troost in early 2022 by a mutual business associate as someone who could help Troost counter threats from another business counterpart. The introducer vouched for Mr G’s CIA credentials, according to Troost and an affidavit, and Srivastava set to work trying to gain Troost’s confidence.
After appearing to resolve Troost’s initial issue, Srivastava claimed he could get Troost permission from the US Government to trade Russian oil “as part of a CIA-approved program”, according to the WSJ. This would supposedly allow Washington to monitor oil flows out of Russia while providing a vehicle for Srivastava to sell commodities he received for his alleged CIA-backed security work in Africa. Following an apparent “interrogation” of Troost in Geneva by a French financier, Nicolas Bravard, whom Srivastava allegedly called a “friend of the FBI”, Srivastava inducted Troost into his claimed “program” in Bali, confiding that he “was with the CIA”, according to Troost speaking to the WSJ.
Escalation and Financial Misuse
Claiming to act with the direct support of CIA Director William ‘Bill’ Burns, Srivastava persuaded Troost to part with 50% of his company, and with the help of US law firm Baker Hostetler, a sale was agreed in July 2023. Srivastava claimed he could not own the shares directly – “because Russia and other countries wouldn’t do business with a US agent” – so Bravard would act as his proxy.
In the following months, Srivastava drew money out of Troost’s company, Paramount Energy & Commodities, using it to fund political donations in the US, establish a new office, and purchase a $24.5 million villa in the exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. This purchase – where an Indonesian company was apparently persuaded under false pretenses to provide funds to Srivastava – appears central to the wire fraud claims against him.
Growing Desperation and Implausible Claims
As suspicions grew at Paramount about Srivastava’s claims, the funds dried up. In early 2023, Srivastava appeared to grow desperate, according to the WSJ. Citing recordings of phone calls, emails, and messages, Srivastava and his associates pressured Troost to transfer ownership of Paramount to the US as soon as possible, making increasingly outrageous claims to win Troost’s trust. These included assertions that he was “one of 30 top-secret agents working for the US” alongside financier Warren Buffett, who “ran the CIA’s pension plan”. Buffett denied any connection to Srivastava or the CIA.
In May 2023, Troost rescinded all agreements with Srivastava and his proxies due to the deception. All those who dealt with Srivastava have cut ties with him while raising serious concerns about his integrity. The only exceptions appear to be a former CIA officer, John Maguire, previously involved in another con attempt in the US, and Srivastava’s law firm, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Recently, two separate cases were lodged against Gaurav and his wife Sharon Srivastava in California for fraud and fraudulent misrepresentations. Similarly, Stephen McPherson, the former head of ABC Entertainment, filed a lawsuit against Srivastava after he refused to vacate a $12 million Santa Monica home following the expiry of the lease.
Writing in the WSJ, Wallace noted, “Srivastava’s story—part Austin Powers, part James Bond—shows the ease with which someone with money and moxie can access Washington’s most influential people.” Troost told the Journal he feels “burned but takes solace in believing he wasn’t alone. ‘It wasn’t just me. The entire political system fell for his story,’ he added.” Despite the array of allegations and evidence of criminal activity against him, Srivastava and his lawyers deny all claims.
This article was received directly from the reporter.