In Fairlea, West Virginia, an Indian man overstayed his visa. Not just that, he worked for nearly four years at a local business centre. All this while living under the radar. His undocumented status was no secret to the couple who hired him—Rajesh and Avani Patel. Not only did they employ him, but they also housed him, paid his rent, and personally drove him around.
Rajesh N Patel, 51, and Avani Patel, 44, have now pleaded guilty to federal charges related to aiding and employing Aakash Prakash Makwana, a 30-year-old Indian national. According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, Rajesh Patel admitted to knowingly transporting an illegal alien, while Avani Patel pleaded guilty to the unlawful employment of aliens.
Court records reveal that between November 2020 and September 2024, the Patels employed Makwana at their business in Greenbrier County. “The Patels admitted that they agreed to hire Makwana knowing that he was living in the United States illegally after his immigration visa expired,” prosecutors were quoted as saying.
Rajesh Patel went beyond offering him a job. He confessed to regularly driving Makwana to work and other destinations, as Makwana did not own a vehicle. He also admitted to covering Makwana’s rent, supplying groceries, and failing to collect or remit payroll taxes on his wages.
Makwana had previously pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025, to aggravated identity theft in connection with a fraudulent marriage scheme. Prosecutors stated, “In or around August 2021, Makwana conspired with others to marry a US citizen so he could apply for lawful permanent residence status.”
The plan reportedly failed, and Makwana is set to be sentenced on September 26. Rajesh Patel admitted to being aware of the sham marriage and even supporting it financially by making cash payments to co-conspirators.
As part of the same conspiracy, Illinois resident Kalee Ann Huff admitted to marrying Makwana and was sentenced in June to five years of federal probation. Her brother-in-law, Joseph Sanchez, who helped arrange the marriage, also received probation.
Reports added that Rajesh Patel will be sentenced on January 9 and faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 (approximately Rs 2.2 crore) fine. Avani Patel’s sentencing is scheduled for January 5, with a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $3,000 (approximately Rs 2.65 lakh) fine.
