Nileshkumar Patel, 42, and Harsad Mehta, 68, both of India, admitted their roles in a covert human smuggling ring that exploited commercial airlines to funnel Indian nationals into the United States. The guilty pleas, entered in Newark federal court, mark the end of a years-long investigation into a network built on deception, greed, and border exploitation.
The men pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle foreign nationals into the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. U.S. District Judge William J. Martini accepted the pleas, which stemmed from actions between June 2013 and October 2015, during which Patel and Mehta orchestrated the unlawful entry of Indian citizens seeking to live and work in America under the radar.
Court documents reveal the pair flew two Indian nationals to Bangkok, Thailand, on July 24, 2014, arranging their onward transport to Newark, New Jersey. In a twist of fate, they paid what they believed was a smuggler to move the individuals — only to later learn the recipient was an undercover federal officer. That misstep unraveled their entire operation.
U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, who announced the pleas, emphasized that the scheme was driven purely by profit. “These defendants didn’t care about the risks they imposed on the individuals they smuggled — they saw human beings as commodities,” Fishman said. “This conviction sends a message: exploiting our immigration system for cash will be met with federal prosecution. “
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2017. Patel is represented by Michael P. Koribanics, Esq. of Clifton, New Jersey. Mehta is represented by Mark A. Berman, Esq. of River Edge, New Jersey.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Terence S. Opiola in Newark. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Navarro of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case. No further co-conspirators have been named at this time.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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