Woman jailed for smuggling Indians into US

New York, July 19 

A 51-year-old Indian-origin woman was sentenced to three-year imprisonment and ordered to forfeit more than $7 million for her role in smuggling hundreds of undocumented people, primarily from India, into the US in exchange for fees ranging from approximately $28,000 to $60,000 per person.

In June last year, Hema Patel pleaded guilty to alien smuggling for financial gain by fraudulently bonding illegal aliens from immigration custody and causing their release into the US. 

Patel, a bail bondswoman, was ordered to forfeit her residence in Texas, two hotels, $7.2 million in bail bonds, $400,000 in cash and 11 gold bars, the US Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, New York, said. US Attorney Richard Donoghue said Patel smuggled hundreds of aliens into the US. — PTI