TINTON FALLS – A Monmouth County doctor has admitted to harboring two undocumented women from India as well as failing to pay taxes on their wages, officials said.
Harsha Sahni, 66, of Tinton Falls, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conceal and harbor aliens and one count of filing a false tax return.
Officials said Sahni conspired with others to conceal and harbor two foreign nationals from India from 2013 through August 2021 who she recruited to work for herself and her family in their homes.
“Sahni harbored the victims for her and her conspirators’ financial gain and paid the victims’ families in India in exchange for their labor,” officials said.
Sahni convinced the victims to believe they would be arrested and deported if they interacted with law enforcement.
In order to hide their identity, Sahni instructed the victims to tell other people that they were related to Sahni, and Sahni used fake names and addresses in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Additionally, Sahni also failed to pay certain taxes from 2013 to 2019, notwithstanding that the victims were Sahni’s household employees.
As a part of the plea agreement, Sahni has agreed to pay the victims a combined $642,212 and has agreed to pay up to $200,000 towards the treatment of one of the victim’s brain aneurysm. Sahni has also agreed to pay restitution to the IRS.
Sahni is facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits or other proceeds, whichever is greatest. She also faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel; special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso; and special agents of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Keith J. Byrne, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
