Greenbrier County Couple Plead Guilty to Immigration Crimes

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Today, Rajesh N. Patel, 51, of Ronceverte, pleaded guilty to knowingly transporting an illegal alien and his wife Avanibahen Patel, 44, pleaded guilty to unlawful employment of aliens.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from November 2020 through at least September 2024, Aakash Prakash Makwana, 30, a citizen of India unlawfully residing in Ronceverte, was employed at a Fairlea business owned and operated by the Patels. Makwana assisted with the daily running of the business during the time period. As part of their guilty pleas, the Patels each admitted that they agreed to hire Makwana knowing that he was living in the United States illegally after his immigration visa expired.

Rajesh N. Patel further admitted that he drove Makwana to and from work and other locations because Makwana did not own a vehicle. Rajesh N. Patel also admitted that he did not collect or pay over to the United States government any payroll taxes from Makwana’s gross pay, and paid Makwana’s rent and supplied him with groceries during most of the time Makwana was employed at the business.

Makwana pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025, to aggravated identity theft, admitting that he committed the offense as part of a scheme to marry a United States citizen to evade U.S. immigration laws. In or around August 2021, Makwana conspired with others to marry a U.S. citizen so he could apply for Lawful Permanent Residence status, also known as obtaining a Green Card. The marriage fraud scheme was not successful. Makwana is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2025.

As part of his guilty plea, Rajesh N. Patel admitted that he knew of the marriage fraud conspiracy and aided and abetted it by making cash payments to Makwana’s co-conspirators. Kalee Ann Huff, 28, of Fairbury, Illinois, admitted to marrying Makwana as part of the conspiracy and was sentenced on June 12, 2025, to five years of federal probation for marriage fraud and perjury. Huff’s brother-in-law, Joseph Sanchez, admitted to helping to arrange the fake marriage and to pressuring Huff to take part. Sanchez, 33, of Fairbury, Illinois, was sentenced to five years of federal probation on May 28, 2025, for participating in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy.

Rajesh N. Patel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Avanibahen Patel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of six months in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $3,000.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the cases.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:25-cr-136 (Rajesh N. Patel) and 5:25-cr-137 (Avanibahen Patel).

###