BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Greenbrier County man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in an immigration-related crime involving the unlawful employment and transportation of an illegal immigrant.
Rajesh N. Patel, 51, of Ronceverte, was sentenced to three years of federal probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to knowingly transporting an illegal immigrant. The sentence was imposed by Frank W. Volk, Chief United States District Judge.
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 who was unlawfully residing in Ronceverte after his visa expired, worked at a Fairlea business owned and operated by Patel.
Makwana assisted with daily business operations during that time. Patel admitted that he knowingly hired Makwana despite being aware of his illegal immigration status.
Patel also acknowledged transporting Makwana to and from work and other locations because Makwana did not own a vehicle.
In addition, Patel admitted he failed to withhold or pay payroll taxes to the United States government from Makwana’s wages and that he paid Makwana’s rent and provided groceries for much of the period of employment.
Makwana was sentenced on October 8, 2025, to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft.
He admitted the crime was committed as part of a scheme to evade U.S. immigration laws by entering into a fraudulent marriage with a United States citizen in an attempt to obtain Lawful Permanent Residence, commonly referred to as a Green Card. The scheme, which began around August 2021, was ultimately unsuccessful.
As part of his guilty plea, Patel admitted he was aware of the marriage fraud conspiracy and aided 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 scheme 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, 34, also of Fairbury, Illinois, admitted to helping arrange the fraudulent marriage and was sentenced on May 28, 2025, to five years of federal probation.
Patel’s wife, Avanibahen Patel, 44, of Ronceverte, pleaded guilty on September 4, 2025, to unlawful employment of aliens and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2026.
The case was announced by Moore Capito, United States Attorney, who commended the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The prosecution was handled by Jonathan T. Storage.
Federal officials said the case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative of the U.S. Department of Justice focused on immigration enforcement, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
