WV Couple Enabled Immigration Fraud, Exploited Worker

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Ronceverte couple is facing federal sentencing after admitting to a brazen scheme involving the employment of an undocumented immigrant and aiding in a fraudulent marriage plot. Rajesh N. Patel, 51, and his wife, Avanibahen Patel, 44, both pleaded guilty this week to charges stemming from their exploitation of Aakash Prakash Makwana, 30, a citizen of India unlawfully residing in the state.

According to court documents, from November 2020 through at least September 2024, the Patels knowingly employed Makwana at their Fairlea business. The couple admitted they hired Makwana fully aware he was illegally present in the U.S. after his visa expired. But the exploitation didn’t stop there. Rajesh N. Patel confessed to driving Makwana to and from work, providing housing and groceries, and, most damningly, failing to report or pay any payroll taxes on Makwana’s earnings. This wasn’t just a case of cheap labor; it was a calculated effort to skirt the law and maximize profit.

The scheme deepened with the revelation of a marriage fraud conspiracy. Aakash Prakash Makwana himself pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025, to aggravated identity theft, admitting he attempted to secure lawful permanent residency – a Green Card – through a sham marriage. He conspired with others, including Kalee Ann Huff, 28, of Fairbury, Illinois, who was sentenced to five years of federal probation on June 12, 2025, for marriage fraud and perjury. Joseph Sanchez, 33, also of Fairbury, Illinois, received the same sentence on May 28, 2025, for arranging the bogus nuptials. Rajesh N. Patel admitted to knowing about the conspiracy and even providing cash to Makwana’s co-conspirators.

This case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative aimed at tackling illegal immigration and dismantling transnational criminal organizations. Federal officials are signaling a zero-tolerance approach to those who exploit vulnerabilities in the immigration system and profit from illegal activity. The Department of Justice is clearly intent on sending a message: enabling illegal activity carries severe consequences.

Rajesh N. Patel is scheduled for sentencing on January 9, 2026, and faces a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Avanibahen Patel’s sentencing is set for January 5, 2026, where she could receive up to six months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $3,000. Makwana is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2025.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston praised the work of U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in bringing this case to light. The hearings were presided over by United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn, with Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage handling the prosecution. Further details can be found on PACER under Case Nos. 5:25-cr-136 (Rajesh N. Patel) and 5:25-cr-137 (Avanibahen Patel).