Pennsylvania Man Charged with Alien Smuggling and Human Trafficking

Utah – Sivarupan Sivaramalingam, a 43-year-old dual citizen from Malvern, Pennsylvania, has been charged with alien smuggling and human trafficking for his alleged role in facilitating the illegal entry of foreign nationals into the United States.

Sivaramalingam, who traveled to Salt Lake City for this purpose, was arrested on June 20, 2024, after a federal investigation. He is accused of paying approximately $12,500 per foreign national to obtain tourist visas, which he believed would allow them entry into the U.S.

The investigation began when an undercover agent with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) posed as a facilitator for such illegal services. Sivaramalingam communicated through a mobile application, agreeing to a down payment of $5,000 before the undercover agent ‘procured’ B1/B2 tourist visas for five Sri Lankan nationals.

On April 8, 2024, Sivaramalingam traveled to Salt Lake City, where he provided passport copies and paid an additional $6,000. However, the so-called visas were not valid entry documents. The defendant is set to appear in court on July 12, 2024, charged with alien smuggling and human trafficking involving involuntary servitude and forced labor.

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, Trina A. Higgins, announced the charges, emphasizing that the case is part of a larger investigation into human smuggling organizations operating out of the United States, targeting individuals from India and Sri Lanka.

This joint investigation involves multiple agencies, including ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos Esqueda will be prosecuting the case. It’s important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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