Shivam Patel, Making False Army Statements, Virginia 2023

A 27-year-old Williamsburg man has been charged with making false statements during his application to join the US Army and Air Force.

Shivam Patel was arrested on June 30 and charged with making materially false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the United States government, according to a criminal complaint unsealed today.

Patel’s application to join the military was part of the Officer Candidate Selection process. However, he allegedly failed to disclose his foreign travel during his applications.

According to the complaint, Patel traveled to China in July 2016 and then flew to Jordan, where he was arrested, detained, and deported to the United States. In early September 2016, Patel is alleged to have told an undercover agent and a confidential source that he wanted to join a “muslim army” and commit jihad.

After returning to the United States, Patel applied to join the US Army and Air Force through the Officer Candidate Selection process beginning in December 2016. When asked about his foreign travel as part of his applications, Patel did not disclose his travel to China or Jordan.

Instead, Patel allegedly claimed that he had not traveled anywhere outside the United States in the past seven years, except for a family trip to India in 2011–2012. Patel faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bosse.

A copy of the criminal complaint can be found on the website of the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, along with related court documents and information. The case number is 2:17-mj-354.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Related Federal Cases