NEW
YORK — Pursuant to an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Custom
Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, Hema
Patel, 51, a Texas-based bail bondswoman, was sentenced to three years’
imprisonment for her role in smuggling hundreds of illegal aliens into the
United States. Patel was also ordered to forfeit her Texas residence, two
hotels, $7.2 million in bail bonds, $400,000 in cash and 11 gold bars, among
other assets. On June 7, 2018, Patel pleaded guilty to alien smuggling for
financial gain by fraudulently bonding illegal aliens from immigration custody
and causing their release into the United States.
“In a classic example
of how criminal networks exploit loopholes in our nation’s immigration system
to make a profit while threatening the national security of the United States,
Hema Patel and her human smuggling co-conspirators manufactured fraudulent bond
documents to secure the release of undocumented aliens that were smuggled
through the southwest border by an international criminal network,” stated HSI
Special Agent-in-Charge Melendez. “HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to
secure our nation’s legitimate travel, trade and finance by going after transnational
criminal networks, their facilitators and their ill-gained assets.”
“For
her personal financial gain, defendant Hema Patel arranged to have hundreds of
aliens smuggled into the United States, completely by-passing the visa
application and eligibility requirements,” stated Richard P. Donoghue, United
States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “She will now pay
the price for placing the safety and security of the residents of our
communities at risk. Border security is a top priority of the Department of
Justice.” (read
the rest here)
