Mass. Men Sentenced for Transporting Illegal Alien
UTICA, NEW YORK – Mohan S. Saini, age 63, of Arlington, Massachusetts, and Melvin Claudio, age 22, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, were sentenced yesterday for transporting an illegal alien within the United States. Saini was sentenced to time served (3 days in jail), followed by 3 years of supervised release, with 100 hours of community service, and a fine of $50,000. Claudio was sentenced to time served (4 days in jail), followed by 3 years of supervised release, and 50 hours of community service.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Robert N. Garcia, Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
In February 2018, Saini hired Claudio to help him pick up an illegal alien near the border and transport him to Massachusetts. On February 18, 2018, Saini and Claudio drove in separate cars to the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation near Hogansburg, New York. While there, Claudio waited in a public parking lot and Saini drove to a remote location where he picked up Anil Singh, an illegal alien from India who had just crossed the border. Saini transported Singh to where Claudio was waiting, and Singh transferred to Claudio’s car. After Singh was successfully transferred to Claudio’s car, they all left the reservation driving east toward Massachusetts.
A Border Patrol Agent had observed the transfer of Singh between the cars on the reservation. After Saini and Claudio had left the reservation, they were each stopped and arrested by Border Patrol.
Anil Singh, age 28, and a citizen of India, was convicted of the misdemeanor offense of entry without inspection on February 26, 2018, and sentenced to time served (8 days in jail).
This case was investigated by Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.