Two men were each sentenced to 17 months in prison today for their roles in a conspiracy to illegally transport foreign nationals into the United States via commercial airline flights.
Nileshkumar Patel, 42, and Harsad Mehta, 67, both of India, previously pleaded guilty to separate superseding informations charging them each with one count of conspiracy to smuggle foreign nationals into the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced the sentencing, which took place in Newark federal court. U.S. District Judge William J. Martini imposed the sentences on the two defendants.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Patel and Mehta admitted that from June 2013 through October 2015, they conspired to make money by recruiting Indian nationals to enter and reside in the United States illegally.
The defendants also admitted that on July 24, 2014, they brought two Indian nationals to Bangkok, Thailand, so that they could be transported into the United States. They paid an individual, who was actually an undercover officer, to transport the foreign nationals from Thailand into Newark.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Martini sentenced Patel and Mehta to three years of supervised release. The investigation was led by special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Terence S. Opiola in Newark.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Navarro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.
Related Federal Cases
- Nileshkumar Patel, Smuggling, New Jersey 2017 · New Jersey
- Nileshkumar Patel, Human Smuggling, NJ 2024 · Washington
- Mohammad Abdul Wahid, Forced Labor, New Jersey 2011-2016 · Washington
- Harpushpinder Singh, Alien Smuggling, NY 2016 · Pennsylvania
- Nikolay Souslov, Alien Smuggling, NY 2024 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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